§ Sir E. HUME-WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade how many vessels doing the Channel service from Calais or Boulogne to Dover or Folkestone sail under the French flag; what is the tonnage of each; what number 767W of passengers each is licensed to carry and by whom such licence is granted; and whether he will make representations to the appropriate French authority asking that adequate accommodation and, in particular, a sufficient number of seats may be provided for the number of passengers each vessel is licensed to carry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERTwo of the vessels performing the cross-Channel services in question sail under the French flag, namely, the "Invicta," gross tonnage, 2,119, and the "Empress," gross tonnage, 2,098. The number of passengers authorised by the passenger certificates, which axe granted by the French Government, are 1,290 and 1,262, respectively.
Under an arrangement made with the French Government several years ago, the French regulations relating to the issue of passenger certificates are recognised as substantially equivalent to the Board of Trade Regulations. The passenger certificates issued to these vessels by the French authorities, after compliance with the French regulations, are therefore accepted in this country. The Board have no reason to think that the appropriate Regulations are not fully complied with by these ships, and they can see no grounds an which representations could be made to the French Government.
I may add that these vessels formerly sailed under the British flag and held passenger certificates from the Board of Trade allowing the same numbers of passengers as they are now authorised to carry.