§ 28. Mr. THOMAS LEWISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state what progress has been made by the committee set up to consider and advise on any questions affecting the health of the mercantile marine; whether he can give the statistics relating to the mortality of seamen and the hygiene of crew spaces on board ship into which the committee has been conducting an investigation since last July; and if he can state when the committee will be able to make a report?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMAs the answer is long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
The work of the committee is progressing, but I cannot say when the Departments will receive the committee's views on the two subjects mentioned by my hon. Friend. The existing statistics relative to the mortality of seamen are available in the annual returns of shipping casualties to and deaths on vessels registered in the United Kingdom and in Part II of the Registrar-General's Decennial Supplement dealing with occupational mortality. What the committee has in hand is a detailed investigation into the question of how far and in what way those statistics can be improved. The only satisfactory method of conducting such an inquiry is in connection with current cases and the committee are inquiring into the deaths reported month by month from October last probably 1066 until September next. No report can therefore be expected for some months. Work on the hygiene of crew spaces on board ship is well advanced, and discussions with those concerned are proceeding.