asked the President of the Board of Trade what assurances he has obtained from British shipowners that the penal sections of the Merchant Shipping Acts will not be invoked by them during the present seamen's strike either in home ports or abroad; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that seamen are withdrawing their labour when their ships return to the United Kingdom and their agreements terminate or are terminated by notice being given. In these circumstances no question of invoking the Merchant Shipping Acts should arise.