§ Mr. LOUGHasked the President of the Board of Trade what requirements are made from the shipping companies before passenger certificates are issued to Channel steamers; whether the respective numbers of first, second, and third-class passengers are fixed by the Board; whether any special accommodation is required to be provided for the two former classes, and seats under cover for all; on what principle is the number of boats that these vessels carry fixed; do the powers of the Board enable it to control the navigation so as to prevent dangerous evolutions being undertaken with the passengers on board, close to shore, before entering the port; and whether the Regulations under which the Board acts have received the approval of Parliament?
Mr. BUXTONI fear that I cannot give all the information asked for within the limits of an answer to a question. I can say shortly that the requirements are contained in the Instructions issued by the Board of Trade to their officers as to the survey of passenger steamships, as to the survey of passenger accommodation, and in the Life-saving Appliances Rules. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The Board have general powers for the control of navigation under Sections 220, 418, and 419 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, from which it will be seen that the master or officer in charge is held responsible for 1437W the safe navigation of his vessel. The approval of Parliament is not required in the case of the two first sets of Instructions to which I have referred, but the Life-saving Appliances Rules were laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 247 of the Act of 1894.