§ Mr. MUGGERIDGEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement of the number of foreign ships entering British ports in the last three years without having complied with the Board of Trade regulations for the safety of life at sea, especially with regard to the loading of grain and the load line; how many have been fined [...] and whether he will take steps to secure that no foreign vessels shall be allowed to discharge cargo in British ports with- 981W out producing a certificate from His Majesty's Consul at the port of departure that such regulations have been complied with before sailing?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe number of foreign ships reported as having arrived at ports in the United Kingdom during the period 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1931, with grain loaded in contravention of the Merchant Shipping Acts is 29. The cases were not such that proceedings could usefully be instituted. The number of foreign ships reported as having arrived during the same period with their load line discs submerged is 18. In five cases the master was prosecuted and fined. It would not be practicable to adopt the procedure suggested in the last part of the question as to the supervision of foreign ships in foreign ports by British consular officers.