Chinese Crews
1.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the eight steamships of the America-Levant Line and the 19 motor ships of the Silver Line, all on the British register, employ Chinese crews in all departments; and whether he proposes to take any action to remedy this state of affairs in view of the prevalent unemployment amongst British seamen?
I am informed that the steamships of the America-Levant Line, Limited, do not carry Chinese seamen. Those motor ships of the Silver Line which are in commission carry Chinese crews. I understand that these vessels are employed in trading continuously abroad, mainly in tropical waters, and do not ordinarily return to the United Kingdom. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer that was given him on the 11th March.
Is it a fact that a great number of these ships, British registered and flying the British flag and trading between these ports, necessarily have to employ foreign seamen?
I would require notice of that question.
Officers' Certificates (Examinations)
2.
asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to the present shortage of junior officers in the British mercantile marine; if he is aware that among the reasons put forward for this alleged shortage is the severity of the theoretical examinations for officers' certificates which many practical and experienced seamen find difficult to pass; and whether he will have this matter investigated?
I am glad to say that, according to my information, unemployment among officers of the British mercantile marine has diminished during the past few months, but I am not aware that there is any general shortage. The numbers of certificates issued give no ground for thinking that the standard of the Board's examinations is unduly high, and as the whole system was recently investigated by a representative committee whose recommendations have been accepted by the Board I do not think any further investigation is necessary at present.
Coal And Oil Fuel (Statistics)
14.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total tonnage of British merchant marine registered under the Board of Trade rules constructed in 1929 to burn oil only, to burn coal only, and to burn both coal and oil, and the corresponding figure for 1913?
The information is not available in the form desired by the hon. Member, but the following figures may be of service to him:
Tons. | |
Total ships launched in this country in 1929 | 1,522,623 |
(About 86 per cent. of this tonnage was for registration under the British flag.) | |
Of this motor ships totalled | 464,188 |
Steamers fitted to burn oil under boilers totalled | 306,000 |
Of the last named, a considerable proportion can with slight alteration burn coal instead of oil and some do in fact burn coal, but figures are not available to show how much of this tonnage is actually burning coal or oil at any one time. Figures for 1913 similar to those given for 1929 are not available.
Is it not certain that the merchant marine will all be burning oil in the future and that the coal trade will perish?
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if the Coal Bill becomes law it will give a further incentive—
That appears to be an entirely hypothetical question.