§ 72. Mr. PETOasked whether he is aware of the statements contained in the annual report of the medical officer of health to the Newport (Mon.) Port Sanitary Authority that the standard of hygiene on board 1843 merchant cargo vessels is such as would not be tolerated ashore in any town in this country, that there is no question as to the inadequacy and obsoleteness of the health preserving regulations of the Board of Trade, which Department is entrusted with the housing of the sailor, and that Norway and Denmark are ahead of us in respect to marine hygiene; and whether he intends to take any steps in the matter?
§ 74. Major ARCHER - SHEEasked whether there has been brought to his attention the resolution adopted by the port sanitary committee at Newport (Mon.) in June last to the effect that this committee are strongly of opinion that it is full time that something was done with a view to the raising of the standard of hygiene at sea, and that the conditions of living, supervision, storing of food, nuisance arising from foul contaminations, damp, dark, dirty, and ill-ventilated living spaces, foul sanitary arrangements, lack of opportunities for personal ablutions, faulty designs, and other matters must render the merchant service most unattractive to self-respecting individuals who can earn a living ashore, and call for early Government inquiry; and whether, having regard to these animadversions, and to others of a similar character, on the part of medical officers at other seaports, he intends to take any action in the matter?
4. Sir GILBERT PARKERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the fact that out of 2,689 British merchant vessels which during the year 1911 entered the port of Newport (Mon.), and which were inspected by the port sanitary inspector, no fewer than 453 were discovered with sanitary defects in respect to accommodation and space provided for officers and crews; and whether he is proposing to take any steps in protecting those engaged in the mercantile marine in the way of insuring their being enabled to carry on their work under proper hygienic conditions?
Mr. BUXTONAs I have already stated, I am causing inquiries to be made in connection with the Report referred to, on which the resolution of the Port Sanitary Committee at Newport was presumably based. When these inquiries are completed I will consider what action, if any, is necessary.
§ Mr. PETOIs it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to appoint any 1844 surveyors who possess any knowledge of sanitary science to enable them to advise him on this subject?
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEHas the right hon. Gentleman any intention of appointing a Committee of Inquiry to inquire into this state of affairs?
§ Mr. PETOIs it not a fact that there are only two medical officers representing the Board of Trade in the Port of Liverpool, and is it not also a fact that they have not the time to make inspections except of large vessels?