asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will obtain from the records of the Administrative Committee which dealt with the recent tramp shipping subsidy the number of British ships, employing Lascars, in respect of which subsidy payments were made?

Scrutiny of all applications made by shipowners to the Tramp Shipping Subsidy Committee and other relevant documents would involve a great deal of time and labour, and I do not think that in the circumstances it would be justified.

Is it not important, before the right hon. Gentleman decides on any question of financial assistance, to ascertain how many of these shipowners employ Lascars?

I think that in writing to the hon. Gentleman I suggested that if he would consult with me with regard to the information he really wanted, we would see what we could get; but the exact details and accurate information, the collection of which would entail an immense amount of work, are not, I think, necessary for the purpose of coming to a general conclusion.

Will the coloured or Lascar labour be itemised?