§ 9. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that in recent marine disasters in many cases the death of passengers or members of the crew has resulted from exposure in the water, or the consequences thereof, where persons were equipped with the regulation lifebelt; whether he has considered the desirability of introducing regulations compelling shipping companies to adopt more up-to-date and modern life-saving devices; and whether he will take steps to amend the present regulations in order to make the safety-first 6 principle applicable to crews and passengers on sea as it is on land?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Report made by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee in December, 1922, on life-saving appliances, and would call his attention to the remarks made by a subcommittee of that body on the question of exposure. The possible value of special appliances was recognised, but on practical grounds it was decided not to suggest a compulsory requirement.