§ Mr. LOGANasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of able-seamen and apprentices employed in the British mercantile marine in each of the last five years for which figures are available?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe number of seamen employed in British ships is ascertained only at a date when a census of seamen is taken, and the only census subsequent to that of 1921 at which any separate classification of able seamen and of apprentices was made is that relating to seamen employed on 26th April, 1931. On that date there were employed in sea-trading vessels registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, 12,378 persons classified as able seamen and 4,020 apprentices (including midshipmen and cadets).
§ Mr. LOGANasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of lascars employed in the British mercantile 995W marine in 1934 or the latest available date?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe latest information available relates to the census of seamen taken on 15th June, 1933. On that date there were enumerated as employed in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands 42,475 lascar seamen. Under the heading "lascars" are included Asiatics and East Africans employed under agreements for natives of Asia or East Africa, which open and terminate in Asia.