§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the law providing that all passenger and other steamers must carry a certain number of boats, which must be kept in good order, is practically ignored, and that in many cases the boats are not tested more than once a year; and if he will give instructions that on all ships the boats provided for crews and passengers shall be tested by being put into practical working at least once a month.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE) Carnarvon BoroughsNo, Sir, I have no reason to think that the law to which my hon. friend refers is in any way ignored. On the contrary, I am assured that the boats of passenger steamers are inspected before the issue of their passenger certificate, those in the Atlantic passenger trade being inspected every voyage. Vessels engaged in other trades are inspected as frequently as possible, but, without an army of surveyors, it would be impossible for the Board's staff to inspect the boats of all vessels once a month.
§ MR. CATHCART WASONWill the right hon. Gentleman insist on the inspectors seeing that boat drills take place periodically, and that the boats are seaworthy?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI will bear that in mind.