§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the frequent practice of the employment of foreign captains and officers in British ships trading between foreign ports; and whether, in view of the unemployment existing in the merchant navy, he can see whether steps can be taken to ensure that British officers are employed in British ships as far as possible?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe law prohibiting the employment of an alien as the master, chief officer or chief engineer of a British ship registered in the United Kingdom makes a specific exception in the case of a ship employed habitually in voyages between foreign ports. I do not think that an amendment of the law is required and I doubt whether such amendment would achieve the object of increasing the total employment of British captains and officers.