Major WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the statement contained in the recent annual report of the medical officer of health for Newport, Monmouth, that inadequate attention is frequently given in the designing of crew spaces on new vessels to the elementary principles of domestic hygiene and that the accommodation provided on many new vessels is unsatisfactory and inadequate; and, if so, can he give any further infor- 2066W mation as to what steps the Board of Trade are taking in the matter?
Mr. BUXTONI have not seen the report to which the hon. Member refers, but as soon as a copy reaches me I will cause the statements contained in it to be carefully investigated. I may add that the whole question of crew spaces on ships has for some time been receiving the attention of the Board of Trade, and the instructions to surveyors on the subject are now under revision.