Major WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the case of vessels sustaining serious damage when carrying deck cargoes, any official investigation by the Board of Trade is ever held; and, if not, will he explain why this is not done?
Mr. BUXTONA preliminary inquiry-is held in every case in which a vessel sustains serious damage, whether a deck cargo is carried or not, and a formal investigation is ordered in every case in which it appears necessary.
Major WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a Return, covering a period of the last ten years, furnishing brief particulars of the casualties themselves, and the opinions in full, as regards the dangers of deck loads, of Board of Trade inquiries or other 1475W marine inquiries into casualties happening on the high seas to vessels carrying deck loads?
Mr. BUXTONThe Reports of Courts of Inquiry in Shiping Casualties do not always state whether deck loads are carried or not, but I shall be glad to furnish a Return which gives the particulars desired by the hon. Member in so far as they are contained in these Reports.