Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of alien seamen engaged at the port of North Shields in 1930; how this total compares with the number of British seamen so engaged; and what is the present number of British seamen unemployed at the port in question?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe number of engagements of seamen at North Shields for service in foreign-going ships during 1930 was 9,156, of which 8,184 or 89 per cent. were those of British seamen other than Asiatics and Africans, 346 or 4 per cent. those of foreigners other than Asiatics and Africans, and 626 or 7 per cent. those of Asiatics and Africans, 1641W British and foreign. I am informed that the number of seamen registered as wholly unemployed at North Shields on 29th January was 713, but the number of British seamen included in this total is not available.