§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make inquiries of his officers how many times of their own knowledge they have seen the boats provided for the safety of passengers or crew on coasting vessels actually in the water and the gear in order; and if he can ascertain from masters of coasting vessels how many times during the year the boats under their charge are actually lowered into the water.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. KEARLEY, DevonportSpecial inquiries have been made into the matter to which my hon. friend refers. In the case of passenger vessels the Board of Trade surveyors now make a practice of seeing the boats lowered and also that the gear is in order at every survey. With regard to other coasting vessels no exact figures can be given, but these vessels generally have at least one boat in the water at every port for working purposes and the surveyor's reports tend to show that, when more than one boat is carried the other boats are generally lowered from time to time. The hon. Member is aware that a cautionary notice on this point is now in course of being issued to owners and masters by the Board of Trade.