HC Deb 09 May 1939 vol 347 cc274-5
10. Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken to give effect to any or all of the provisions of the draft Agreement as to British Commonwealth Merchant Shipping which was prepared in the United Kingdom, examined in two successive years by representatives of the Governments concerned, adopted by the Imperial Conference of 1930, as a statement of the matters in which it was considered that concerted action on a voluntary basis between the parts of the Commonwealth is essential in the common interest, was to come into operation at the same time as the Statute of Westminster, 1931, and under which His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and the Dominions undertook to propose legislation and take such other steps as might be required for the purpose of giving full effect to its provisions relating to common status for ships registered in the British Commonwealth, standards of safety, the extra-territorial operation of laws, equal treatment for British ships in all parts of the Commonwealth, ship's articles, certificates of officers, shipping inquiries, relief and repatriation of seamen, wages and effects of deceased seamen, offences on board ship, and other matters?

Mr. Stanley

I am afraid that it would not be possible to deal with this matter within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but if the hon. Member has in mind any particular question among the numerous matters covered by the British Commonwealth Merchant Shipping Agreement, I should be glad to give him all the available information.

Mr. Smith

As the right hon. Gentleman is concerned with the whole of the report and of the recommendations, as I hope the Government are, if they are seriously determined to deal with the problem of shipping, will he undertake to send me an answer, or may I approach him immediately?

Mr. Stanley

I would prefer that. The hon. Gentleman will realise that this deals with a large number of subjects, and action has to be taken on them by a large number of bodies, and it would be very difficult to deal with all this in a Parliamentary answer. If the hon. Gentleman will see me, I will give him all the information I have.

Mr. Smith

The right hon. Gentleman will note that the report was made in 1930, and it is now 1939.

Mr. Stanley

It is a question of setting out the various recommendations and the action or inaction on them by the various Dominions.