§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked whether a Special Committee was constituted to inquire into the question of signalling in the mercantile marine; if so, did the Committee report; whether, in some of our largest lines of merchant mail, passenger, and cargo carrying ships, efficient signalling, more particularly Morse signalling at night time, is absolutely forbidden when at sea, and numerous complaints have been made as to signals made to these ships not being answered; and whether the Admiralty and the Board of Trade will take steps to help officers of the mercantile marine not only to maintain the efficiency in signalling at which they have arrived, but to improve matters still further in this respect?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAA Committee was appointed and their report was published in 1906. The signalling of the mercantile marine as a whole has much improved latterly, and the reports received by the Admiralty at stated intervals are satisfactory. It is, I regret to say, the case that the directors of certain of the large steamship companies have not seen their way to meet the efforts of the Admiralty to encourage signalling on board their ships. I am, however, glad to say that the officers of the mercantile marine generally have shown a desire to make themselves proficient in signalling. The Admiralty are fully alive to the importance of this question, and, as I stated on 1st November, have for some time past had under consideration the best means of assisting officers of the mercantile marine to qualify in signalling. It is hoped soon to make an announcement on the subject.
§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Admiralty cannot bring influence to bear upon these companies who do not carry out this signalling to do so, considering the importance of efficient communication at sea?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe will consider that question, and we shall make an announcement shortly.