§ 36. General McCALMONTasked whether an inquiry has been or will be held into the loss of all hands, except the master and three others, of a steamship sunk by enemy action off the South Irish coast; whether boats were carried swung out ready for launching; whether lifebelts were readily available for all hands; and whether he now has power to enforce such precautions on cross-channel and coast wise steamers and to insist upon the issue of lifebelts to all passengers?
§ Mr. WARDLEFull inquiry will be made into the circumstances of the loss of this ship as soon as the survivors (five out of a total complement of thirty-six) are sufficiently recovered, and a formal investigation will be ordered if this is found to be necessary. There were no passengers on board. From the evidence at present available, it appears that one boat was carried swung out, but there is no information at present as to the position of the lifebelts. I do not think that further powers are required to secure that all necessary life-saving precautions shall be taken on these cross- 2365 channel and coastwise steamers, but if any difficulty were experienced the Board of Trade would not hesitate to apply for further powers.
§ General McCALMONTAre we to understand that the Board has no power to enforce the issue of lifebelts to passengers on a passenger steamer?
§ Mr. WARDLENo. The hon. and gallant Member is not entitled to draw that conclusion.