§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if, having regard to the risk run by those crossing the Channel to and from Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ostend, Calais, Dieppe, Havre, Bordeaux, and other Continental ports in foreign built and manned passenger ships, unprovided with the life-saving gear and life-belts for every person licensed to be carried, as required by the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Act of 1888, he will take 1356 steps to assimilate British law to that in force in the United States, and require all ships trading to or from a British port to comply with British laws framed for the safety of passengers.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe question of requiring foreign ships trading to or from a British port to comply with British laws framed for the safety of passengers is being considered by a Select Committee, presided over by my hon. friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. The Committee has suggested its reappointment next session.