HC Deb 21 December 1960 vol 632 cc1276-7
10. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that his Department's standard life jacket does not comply with the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules, 1958, No. 602, Eleventh Schedule, Clause 3 (a), (b) and (c), except when worn by persons of light weight, what steps he is taking to approve life jackets already being manufactured which fully conform to these requirements laid down by him.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Ernest Marples)

From tests carried out by my Department, I am satisfied that the standard jacket complies with these requirements even when worn by heavy persons. My Department is always willing to test any design of lifejacket to see if it complies with the rules.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Would my right hon. Friend look at this matter again, because independent tests recently carried out showed that anybody of 15 stone or more would be turned over on to his face by this jacket? This is a very serious thing in the case of people who are either unconscious or unable to move.

Mr. Marples

I have looked at the particular demonstration to which my hon. Friend has referred, but the requirement is that the jacket should be able to support the head of an unconscious person out of the water and all these tests have taken place with a conscious person. It is very difficult for a conscious person to simulate an unconscious person.

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