§ 39. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether 100 oceangoing vessels only have been fitted with separate hospitals for seamen since the issue of the Board's official recommendations on this matter in January, 1912; whether he will consider the necessity of 816 introducing legislation for the purpose of enforcing these recommendations; and whether he has received a resolution urging this from the Council of the British Medical Association?
§ Mr. BURNSI understand that the number of seagoing cargo vessels which have been fitted with seamen's hospitals since the issue of the Board of Trade notice on the subject in January, 1912, is 112. About 32 per cent. of the vessels of this description built in 1913 were so fitted, as against about 17 per cent. in 1912. The Board of Trade received last February a letter from the British Medical Association, stating that the council noted with satisfaction the action of the Board of Trade in the matter, and trusted that the Board would, in due course, make it compulsory to provide proper hospital accommodation on ships. The question of the possibility of legislation on the subject will not be lost sight of.