§ MR. CHARLES ALLEN (Gloucestershire, Stroud)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Circular to surveying officers dealing with the under-ballasting of ships of the mercantile marine, which was promised more than four months ago, has been issued, whether he can state its terms, and whether any ships, and, if so, how many have been detained since the issue of the Circular on account of being unsafe through want of sufficient ballast.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Circular to which the hon. Member refers was issued to the survey staff of the Board of Trade in March last. It is to the effect that if a vessel is in such trim as to be unsafe, the master is to be warned, and if no steps are taken to remedy the fault, the ship is to be detained. No vessel has been detained since the issue of the Circular on account of being unsafe through want of sufficient ballast.