§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the rule now enforced on all British ships, under the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Act, that a life-belt must be carried in a place readily accessible to every soul on board in the event of collision or other mishap necessitating the abandonment of the vessel, applies equally to Her Majesty's Fleets; and in the contrary case, if the Admiralty will consider the expediency of enforcing it, having regard to the beneficial effect an ample supply of life-saving gear might have had in enabling swimmers and non-swimmers from H.M.S. Victoria to keep afloat the few additional minutes necessary for their rescue by the boats of the adjacent vessels?
* THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH, Lancashire, Clitheroe)The Act referred to does not apply to Her Majesty's ships. Their established allowance of life-belts is one for every 10 men of the total complement, but in any case not less than sufficient for one cutter's crew. The Board of Admiralty are of opinion that this is a sufficient supply, and they do not think it would be reasonable to suppose that a larger supply would have had any beneficial effect in the case of the loss of the Victoria.