§ 14. Mr. KIRBYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the practice of permitting vessels in the overseas trade to sail with only one officer in addition to the master imposes undue strain upon the two officers, who must take watches for more than 84 hours a week, apart from other supervisory duties; and whether he will take steps to ensure that at least subsidised ships of 2,750 tons shall carry a more adequate complement of officers?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere is a National Maritime Board agreement that foreign-going vessels of 2,750 tons gross and upwards trading outside Western European limits shall carry three certificated navigating officers in addition to the master. Owners seeking a subsidy must conform with this agreement in respect of the voyage concerned.
§ 18. Mr. SHINWELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it is the practice of some shipowners to pay off the major portion of a vessel's crew immediately upon arriving in port, leaving only a skeleton crew to perform the necessary work and even to transfer the ship from port to port; whether, in the case of tramp vessels, subsidy is payable during such days as the crew of the vessel is so 187 depleted; and whether he will decline to allow payment of subsidy for days other than those upon which a full complement is carried?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative so far as the port of loading or discharge of cargo is concerned. The duration of an eligible voyage is laid down in Cmd. Papers 4754 and 5082. I would refer the hon. Member in particular to Cmd. Paper 4754, paragraph 2 (c) on page 5. If the work done falls within the voyage as so defined, subsidy is payable. I am not aware of any grounds for modifying this basis of payment. The Tramp Shipping Subsidy Committee will see that the conditions are not abused.
§ Mr. SHINWELLBut when the articles are completed, which means that the bulk of the crew is discharged, is it not irregular to continue payment of the subsidy?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt all depends on the circumstances of the voyage. The definition of the voyage has been a matter of very great care.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWas not the subsidy intended to provide additional remuneration in connection with the voyages of the vessels concerned, and when the voyage is completed and the crew is discharged, surely the subsidy ought not to be paid?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe whole question is when the voyage is begun and completed, and that is provided for in the conditions laid down in the Command Paper I have quoted.
§ Mr. BENJAMIN SMITHSurely it is also provided that where a vessel is on a voyage it must carry a full complement of crew, and in the event of the crew being discharged the articles are ended? Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to define what a voyage is?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI could only read the extracts from the Command Paper which most people are capable of following.