§ 19. Mr. Dayasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the information supplied to his Department shows that there is still a general shortage of junior officers in the British Mercantile Marine; to what extent this can be attributed to the severity of the Board's examinations; and has he had any complaints that the standard is unduly high?
Mr. StanleyI understand that there is no general shortage of junior navigating officers in the British Mercantile Marino at the present time, but that there is still a shortage of engineer officers. The system under which engineers are examined by the Board of Trade for certificates of competency has recently been the subject of a comprehensive inquiry by a Departmental Committee. That committee, whose report was published on 3rd January and is now being very carefully considered, has recommended a number of changes in the system, but they stated that the present overall standard of the examination is appropriate and should be maintained.
Mr. StanleyNo, Sir. The recommendation of the committee was that the standard should be maintained.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWould the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter of the 813 shortage of engineers, and see whether it is because of the bad conditions that prevail for engineers and the low standard of wages?