asked the President of the Board of Trade if legislation is contemplated by the present Government to deal with the repatriation of destitute seamen who are natives of British tropical Dependencies?

The question of repatriating destitute Colonial seamen from the United Kingdom has engaged a great deal of attention since the War, and such action as was possible has been taken by the Departments concerned with useful results. Legislation will probably be necessary in order to deal comprehensively with this question, and the matter is being considered, but it is not possible to make any statement at present as to the introduction of legislation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confer with his colleague, the Colonial Secretary, and deal with this very long-outstanding grievance from the Colonial point of view, and will he do his best to ensure that the necessary legislation, which could be quite short, shall be introduced this Session, if possible?

I should certainly be glad to continue the conversations which have no doubt been taking place for some years between right hon. Gentlemen, and if anything can be done to quicken them up I will do my best, but it is impossible to hold out any hope of legislation this Session.