HC Deb 21 June 1938 vol 337 cc875-7
17. Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom is the only important maritime country in Europe which allows coasting vessels to be officered by uncertificated persons, he will take steps to remedy this unsatisfactory position?

Mr. Stanley

The Merchant Shipping Acts do not require that coasting cargo vessels should carry certificated officers, but I have no evidence that the position is unsatisfactory.

Mr. Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman unaware that, as stated in the question, this is practically the only country that allows uncertificated officers on coasting ships; and will he consider the matter from the international aspect as well as from the aspect of safety?

Mr. Stanley

I do not consider that the fact that we may be the only country which does a particular thing is necessarily any reason for altering it. I have had no evidence to show that the practice in this country is in any way endangering the safety of ships and crews, which is the only argument for making an alteration.

18. Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many coasting vessels are so under-manned that the only person on watch, in addition to the mate, is a boy at the wheel; that in the case of foreign-going ships the Board of Trade Circular 1707 calls for, in addition to the officer on watch, a man at the wheel, one on the lookout, and a spare hand; and whether, in view of the fact that coasting vessels operating in waters of maximum congestion are urgently in need of manning regulations conforming to those prescribed for foreign-going vessels, he will initiate an official inquiry into the matter?

Mr. Stanley

The Board of Trade have no power to deal with manning except on grounds of safety, and my information does not show that from this point of view coasting vessels are undermanned. I know of no reason for instituting a special inquiry.

Mr. Smith

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of Circular 1707, which I quote in my question? If I supply him with a list of firms that consistently under-man their ships, will he undertake to look into it?

Mr. Stanley

I think the hon. Gentleman must be under some misapprehension. Circular 1707 deals only with foreign-going ships.

Mr. Smith

Yes, and I am asking whether, if it is good for the foreign ship in British waters to be manned in such a way, it is not equally good for British ships to be equally manned?

Mr. Stanley

I think the difference is not between foreign and British ships, but between foreign-going and coasting vessels. Obviously, the conditions obtaining in the coastal trade are not always the same as those in the foreign-going trade.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, entirely apart from safety reasons, coastal vessels are undermanned, particularly as regards officers?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir. Any action that I can take is based entirely on questions of safety. The only power I have is on questions of safety, and in August of last year I addressed a special instruction to the surveyors that the closest watch was to be kept on the manning of these coastal vessels from the point of view of safety.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Does the right hon. Gentleman believe that the excessive hours that these officers have to be on watch contribute to safety?

28. Mr. Shinwell

asked the President of the Board of Trade how often in the course of a year coasting vessels are visited by Board of Trade officers for general and crews' quarters survey?

Mr. Stanley

Coasting vessels are dealt with in the same way as other vessels, and Board of Trade surveyors carry out general and crews' quarters inspections of them in the course of their various duties at the ports. So far as possible, inspections are made at least once a year, but, if local information shows more frequent inspections to be necessary, they are made.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction among the seamen employed in our coastal vessels at the condition of crews' quarters and because of the need for more frequent surveys?

Mr. Stanley

If the hon. Member has any instance where surveys have not taken place at the regulation intervals I shall be glad to have particulars.