§ Mr. WILKIEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, on the question of safety of life at sea, consideration has been given to the necessity of providing that men shipped as able seamen are experienced; whether he is aware that it is a common practice to employ 792W inexperienced youths on important duties; on board ship, thereby running unnecessary risk; and whether he will consider the advisability of setting up a standard of experience and ability for men shipped as able seamen.
§ Mr. BURNSThe question of manning was considered by the recent International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, and Article 15 of the Convention lays down that foreign-going passenger steamers must be sufficiently and efficiently manned from the point of view of safety of life at sea. The Convention also lays down that passenger steamships within its scopes must carry qualified men sufficient in number, according to a prescribed scale, to man and handle all the lifeboats and life-rafts carried. These members of the crew must possess a Government certificate of efficiency, and the question of the standard to be required from candidates, for such certificates is now under consideration of the Board of Trade. As regards the remainder of my hon. Friend's question, I shall be prepared to consider any specific cases which he may bring to my notice in which unnecessary risk is; incurred by the employment of inexperienced youths on important duties on board ship.