§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the recommendations of the 1996W Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to inquire into the manning of British merchant ships which sat in 1896, particularly Recommendations Nos. 30, 31, and 33, which deal with the need for a better provision of certificated officers on foreign-going British ships, and more especially No. 32, which dwells on the necessity for legislation; and why no steps have been taken by the Government to give effect to them?
Mr. ROBERTSONAll the recommendations of the Committee referred to received the careful consideration of the Board of Trade, and some of them have been carried into effect. As regards the particular recommendations referred to, it was not considered at the time that there was sufficient justification for proposing the necessary legislation. These questions, however, are now being reconsidered in the light of recent experience. Recommendation No. 32 forms the subject of the Merchant Shipping Certificates Bill now before the House.