§ 38. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will allow his experts to make a special investigation of every single case of damage or loss at sea in relation to collier ships or other vessels of small freeboard reported during the coming 12 months as arising from hatches stove in or hatch-coaming set back; and will he then publish in full detail the reasoned findings of his experts in each case?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMEvery case of serious damage to, or loss of, a ship registered at a port in the United Kingdom is carefully considered by the Board's technical advisers with a view to ascertaining the cause and taking action where necessary to promote remedial measures. Where advantage is likely to be secured a formal investigation by a court of inquiry is ordered and the report of the court is published. For some time past special attention has been given to coal carrying vessels and their hatches, and I am sending the hon. Member papers showing the inquiries that were made and the additional precautions that have been prescribed. Each case that occurs will be specially investigated, and where it is necessary a formal inquiry will be ordered, but I do not think it necessary to publish the reports made by the surveyors on each individual case.