§ 40. Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade how many vessels registered in the United Kingdom were reported to the Board of Trade as having met with casualties while carrying deck loads of timber as between the last day of October of last year and the 16th day of April of the present year; and, if so, whether he can give information as to the nature of the casualties, to any loss of life incurred, and to the voyages which the vessels were at the time making?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Burns)A statement giving the information desired, as far as it is available, will be prepared and forwarded to the hon. and gallant Member.
§ 41. Major ARCHER - SHEEasked whether any official record is kept of the nature and weight of deck cargoes of all descriptions which are carried on British merchant ships from ports in the United Kingdom; whether these deck loads are invariably inspected by nautical surveyors in order that they may be passed as sea worthy and efficiently secured; and whether an official report is in each case furnished by the local surveyor to the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. BURNSNo complete record is kept by the Board of Trade of the nature and weight of all deck cargoes of all descriptions carried by British ships from the United Kingdom, and deck cargoes are not invariably inspected by nautical surveyors. An official report is not made to the Board of Trade on each case in which a deck cargo is carried.