§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the annual report of Dr. Howard Jones, medical officer of the Newport Port Sanitary Authority, who states that, in his opinion, there is no question as to the inadequacy and obsoleteness of the health-preserving regulations of the Board of Trade, which Department is entrusted with the housing of sailors; whether he can furnish any information as to the frequent cases of new vessels which, according to Dr. Howard Jones, arrive at Newport contravening the inadequate health requirements of the Board of Trade; and whether the statement of Dr. Howard Jones is correct that the Board of Trade officials who are responsible for the construction and supervision of vessels are not required to possess any knowledge of hygiene?
Mr. BUXTONMy attention has been called to the Report in question, and I am causing inquiries to be made into the cases referred to by Dr. Howard Jones. The spaces allotted to the crew on all new vessels are inspected by the officers of the Board of Trade. With regard to the last part of the question the Board of Trade have a small staff of medical officers, but as regards other surveyors a knowledge of hygiene is not specifically required as a qualification for appointment. Officers, however, engaged in the inspection of crew spaces possess adequate knowledge to enable them to perform their duties under the Merchant Shipping Acts.