§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the policy of fitting cubicles for the crew to standard ships for the mercantile marine is still being adhered to; whether he can state in how many ships cubicles had to be removed because crews would not have them; and whether instructed merchant-service opinion, as distinguished from shipowners and shipbuilders, was sought when the standard ships were designed?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYUnder agreement with representatives of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union, the policy of fitting cubicles in standard ships is not now being adhered to, and the present arrangements of the forecastles are being made in consultation with those representatives. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.