HC Deb 13 July 1926 vol 198 cc211-2
8. Mr. PONSONBY

asked the President of the Board of Trade with what number of crew and passengers British cargo ships are allowed to sail without having any doctor on board; whether this

quantities of cotton yarn and piece goods, respectively, were exported from Japan in 1913 and 1925?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)

As the answer consists of a table of figures, my hon. Friend will, perhaps, allow me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

number is fixed by Departmental Regulation; and is he satisfied that no hardship is involved by she absence of a doctor on ships not carrying the requisite number, more especially in cases where the ship is not fitted with wireless apparatus?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

Section 209 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, requires a doctor to be carried on every foreign-going ship having 100 persons or upwards on board. I think in all the circumstances the rule is a reasonable one. The hon. Member will appreciate that it would be impracticable to compel ships of a size so small as to be exempt from carrying a wireless apparatus to maintain a doctor.

Mr. PONSONBY

Is the length of the voyage taken into consideration?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I think the real consideration is the size of the ship, and whether it is the kind of ship to which the Regulations should apply.