HC Deb 24 November 1925 vol 188 cc1120-1
19. Sir ROBERT HAMILTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the life-saving appliances on the vessels of the Northern Lights Commissioners are surveyed by Board of Trade surveyors; if those vessels are exempt from carrying lifeboats; and if it is intended to fit them with wireless installations?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The life-saving appliances on the tenders of the Northern Lights Commissioners are not regularly inspected by Board of Trade surveyors. The tenders are not specifically exempted from the life-saving appliances rules, and, while they do not comply exactly with those rules, they carry more boat accommodation than is required by the rules, although of a different character. The tenders, being under 1,600 tons gross, are not required to be fitted with wireless.

Sir R. HAMILTON

Is it not the fact that the vessels of Trinity House do carry life-boats and have wireless, and is it not desirable that, in the case of these vessels of the Northern Lights Commissioners, which have more exposed voyages, the life-saving appliances should be equally as good as those of the Trinity House vessels?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I could not answer the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question without notice. I think the practice of the Board of Trade under successive Governments has been that they have not seen any reason to interfere with the competence and powers of Trinity House and of the Commissioners.

Sir R. HAMILTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to look into the question of the life-saving appliances in these vessels, and their inspection?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

Of course, I paid the hon. Member the compliment of looking into it when he put down a question, and the answer T have just given him is the result of researches extending back for a number of years.

Sir R. HAMILTON

You should go forward, and not backward.