HC Deb 09 May 1939 vol 347 cc277-8
23. Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of vessels registered in this country in which the accommodation for the crew is placed forward, aft, and amidships, respectively?

Mr. Stanley

I regret that this information is not in the possession of my Department.

Mr. Smith

Are the Government so uninterested in the British Mercantile Marine that they cannot issue instructions as to the new quarters and accommodation, and that they do not take the trouble to discover where these quarters are?

Mr. Stanley

There does not seem to be any point in having these statistics. After the regulations are issued all new ships have to have this accommodation and, therefore, any ship registered since then has to have the accommodation.

Mr. Smith

But as to reconditioned ships, surely the Board of Trade must know. Surely the right hon. Gentleman can help us to get this information.

Mr. Stanley

Before the instructions were issued there was no obligation on the part of the owners as to the location of this accommodation, and it is not a matter which can be altered to any large extent even in existing vessels.