§ 16. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider making it compulsory that every passenger boat carry at least one motor lifeboat equipped with wireless and a wireless receiver, so that in the case of disaster the work of rescue ships may be hastened and facilitated?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Life-Saving Appliances Rules, which were revised in 1924, after full consideration by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee, require in the case of foreign-going passenger ships that if the ship carries more than 10 boats, one shall be fitted with a wireless telegraph apparatus; if more than 15 boats, one shall be a motor boat fitted with a wireless telegraph apparatus, and if more than 20 boats, two shall be motor boats so fitted. As at present advised, I do not propose to alter these Rules, but the question of motor boats and wireless will be amongst those considered by the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea which meets next spring.