§ 3. Mr. KELLYasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Board of Trade inspects the lightships and steamboats of Trinity House and the Northern Lights Commissioners; does such inspection cover the living quarters of the officers and men; and is there any regulation as to the supply of clean water for drinking purposes, with the position of tanks which carry such water?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe lightships belonging to the Trinity House are not inspected by the Board of Trade, and their inspection of the Trinity House steam vessels is limited to the life-saving appliances. At the request of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, the Board of Trade have agreed that their surveyors shall supervise the periodical overhauls of the Commissioners' four steam vessels and one manned lightship. The survey covers any necessary repairs to the living quarters of the officers and men. As I informed the hon. Member on 11th December, the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to provisions and water, do not apply to the ships belonging to the General Lighthouse Authorities, and consequently there is no Board of Trade regulation governing the supply of water and the position of tanks on these vessels.
§ Mr. KELLYWill that part of the reply which deals with the question of living quarters include the inspection of the tanks where water for drinking purposes is kept?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think it would include inspection at the time the vessel is under repair, but it would not include inspection from time to time.
§ Mr. KELLYIn view of the fact that these vessels are only under repair once in every three or five years, does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that accumulations in the water tanks may make the water unfit for use?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIf the hon. Gentleman asks me about inspection by the Board of Trade, that question, of course, is within my jurisdiction, but, if the hon. Gentleman is going to make suggestions about the condition of vessels that are under the control of Trinity House, he ought to put a question on the Paper, and then I should be enabled to communicate with Trinity House and to publish all the information which Trinity House places at my disposal.