Captain HAMILTON BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of title Departmental Committee on derelicts, 1913, more particularly with regard to recommendations (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g)
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Board of Trade have taken steps to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on derelicts. In pursuance of recommendations (c) and (e) it was -arranged in September 1913, that the General Post Office should forward immediately to Lloyd's a copy of every message relating to derelicts received at Post Office coast stations. Reports, made by shipmasters to the officers of the Board of Trade are also sent direct to Lloyd's, who are responsible for the dissemination of the information they receive. With regard to recommendation (d), the free issue of Meteorological Office charts was not considered necessary as the Board of Trade weekly supplementary summary of notices to mariners is already issued gratis at all Custom Houses and contains the latest information, as to derelicts. The Merchant Shipping (Convention) Act, 1914, gives effect generally to recommendations (f), (g), and (h), but, owing to the War, the coming into operation of this Act has been postponed until the let January, 1920. Some outlying light stations have been fitted with wireless telegraph apparatus, but, for reason of self-protection, this apparatus: was removed when war was declared. The general lighthouse authorities advised that the expense of fitting their tenders with such apparatus would not be justified, as these 6eldom deal with derelicts and already receive adequate information about other wreckage. Regarding recommendation, (k), the Admiralty 69W have consented to send one of His Majesty's ships when a, general lighthouse authority is unable to deal with a derelict.