§ 47. Captain Ryderasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking, arising out of the "Empire Windrush" disaster, to encourage the greater use of incombustible material in ship construction.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe major ship fires of recent years, including that in the "Empire Windrush," have been in ships built before the 1948 International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea came into operation. The Regulations applying this Convention to United Kingdom ships came into force in November, 1952. They require one of three methods of fire protection to be adopted in all new passenger ships, two of which provide for the use of incombustible materials. I have no evidence that would justify me in imposing further requirements, though naturally I welcome any additional precautions which owners may decide to adopt.
§ Captain RyderWill my right hon. Friend keep the matter in mind, because certain foreign countries are using this incombustible material, and if we are not careful we shall drop behind?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI appreciate the importance of the matter. I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend will himself appreciate that two of the three alternative methods to which I have referred involve the use of these materials.