§ Mr. Kirbyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the lifeboat training school at the Salthouse Dock, Liverpool, may be closed owing to insufficient support being given to it as a privately-run organisation; what other similar organisations now exist in other ports; whether any boat-drill stations exist in any ports in this country and what is the number of officers and seamen who have passed through them and qualified for certificates; whether, for the general safety of shipping, he will refer this subject to the Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade; and whether, now that the shipping subsidy is to be withdrawn, he will consider using part of the money so saved to support voluntary organisations referred to or to establish similar organisations under the control of the Board of Trade?
§ Captain WallaceI understand that this school may have to be closed. Complete information as to other similar privately-owned organisations or boatdrill stations is not available. The Board of Trade have no powers that would enable them to subsidise such organisations. The general question of boat drills was fully considered by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee in 1933 and in 1934 when the present requirements were established. As the existing facilities for the training of crews in the handling of lifeboats appear to be adequate and the number of certificated lifeboatmen available is more than 1779W sufficient to meet all present needs, I see no reason at present for referring the subject to the committee. I would add that during recent years about 100,000 officers and seamen have been granted certificates of competency as efficient lifeboatmen after examination by the Board of Trade.