asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of foreigners serving in the British mercantile marine?

The number of seamen employed in British ships is ascertained only at a date when a census of seamen is taken, and the latest information relates to 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 7,661 foreign seamen (other than lascars) and 42,475 lascar seamen (British subjects and foreigners). 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.

Will the hon. Gentleman send a copy of his answer to the hon. Member for Wavertree (Mr. Cleary), who told us the other day that there were 40,000 foreigners in the mercantile marine?

Will the hon. Gentleman co-operate with the Home Secretary with a view to repatriating these foreign seamen who arrive in this country on British ships in order to make room for the thousands of British seamen who are out of work?

Everything that is proper will be done by the Board of Trade to encourage the greater employment of British seamen on British ships. The House will like to know that the number of foreigners employed on British ships has been steadily diminishing since 1903, and it has never been at a lower figure. It is very necessary that these facts should be given wide publicity. As to the treatment of alien seamen in this country, the law is already quite strong enough to deal with the matter. It is a question of the administration of that law, and due attention will be given to it.

Does the hon. Gentleman exclude from the term "foreigner" the large number of Chinamen alleged to have been born at Hong Kong?

The hon. Gentleman to whom the right hon. Gentleman refers excludes from "foreigner" every British subject, whether born at Hong Kong or elsewhere.

Are the wages of these people, lascars and foreigners, regulated by the Maritime Board?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down that question.

Viscountess ASTOR:

Did I hear the International Brotherhood of Brothers talking about the Chinese as foreigners?