§ MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has agreed to and sanctioned any alteration in the freeboard assigned to British ships; whether the representatives of the seamen were consulted upon the subject as well as the shipowners; and whether he will state if it is his intention before such alteration shall come into operation to lay the particulars of the same upon the Table of the House so as to afford Members an opportunity to consider and discuss the same.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Board have agreed to and sanctioned modifications of the freeboard tables, and, before doing so, consulted the corporations or associations for the survey or registry of shipping appointed for the purpose of approving and certifying the position of load lines as required by Section 438 (4) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. No other associations have been consulted nor any representatives of shipowners. I shall be happy to supply my hon. friend with a copy as soon as the tables are printed.