38. Mr. HectorHughes asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the decision of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to exclude inflatable rafts from its list of approved appliances; and if he will indicate what researches have been made under his auspices, and with what results, into the performance, capabilities, usefulness and reliability of such rafts; and what steps he is taking to improve the provision in ships and particularly in fishing vessels of the latest scientific devices for the safety of life at sea.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Harold Watkinson)The Conference which led to the 1948 Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea considered that equipment dependent for its buoyancy upon inflation should not be accepted for fear of puncture and difficulty of maintenance. Since then extensive tests have been carried out by my 1206 Department, the Admiralty and the Air Ministry, and I am satisfied as a result that this objection has been surmounted. The Government have therefore proposed to the other signatories that the Convention should be amended to permit the use of inflatable rafts in place of buoyant apparatus. Meanwhile I have just made Regulations requiring the carriage of inflatable rafts in certain classes of fishing vessels which are outside the scope of the Convention.
Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that thousands of sailors in our merchant and fishing fleets have long been waiting for these scientific improvements? Does his Answer mean that these improvements will be put into operation immediately?
§ Mr. WatkinsonWhat it means is that, although there is a Convention which prohibits or suggests that these things should not be used, we now consider that all the technical difficulties have been overcome. I know that the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) will be at one with me in saying that the use of these things which I have now authorised may do much to save lives in the coming winter.