HC Deb 14 August 1913 vol 56 c2641
42. Mr. WALTER REA

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to the form vision standard for officers in the mercantile marine?

Mr. BUXTON

I have considered very carefully the representations which have been made to me with regard to the form vision standard which it was proposed to bring into force next year. That standard required a candidate to have normal vision in one eye and half-normal vision in the other. I have decided to make a substantial modification in this standard by omitting the requirement for the weaker eye and by making the standard normal vision only. To reach this standard a candidate will be allowed, at his own option, to use either both eyes together or either eye separately.