HC Deb 03 July 1931 vol 254 cc1609-10W
Mr. S. SAMUEL

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the existing British standards of safety differ from those required by the Safety of Life at Sea Convention; and, if so, in what respects?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

It is not practicable to make an exact and complete comparison between the existing British system, which consists of detailed rules covering the whole of the ship, and the Convention system which deals in detail with some important features and refers to many others in very general terms, leaving it to the administrations concerned to do what is required to make the Convention effective. The general comparison between the existing British standards of safety and those required by the Convention (apart from points of detail) may be briefly, but not exhaustively, stated as follows:

  1. (a) The general standard of the Convention as regards construction of passenger steamers is, on the whole, about the same as the present British standard provided that effect is given to the recommendation of the Safety Conference as to the subdivision of vessels engaged in services of special risk.
  2. (b) The Convention standard regarding wireless telegraphy approximates to the British standard as regards the classes of ships covered; the technical requirements to be complied with are 1610 in some ways more severe, but the existing British requirement of a definite period of watch to be kept by wireless operators on a large class of ships is not provided for in the Convention.
  3. (c) As regards life-saving appliances, the Convention requirements as to the boats and other appliances to be carried are generally comparable with the existing British rules if applied to the same classes of vessels, but the reduction in life-saving appliances which is allowed under British rules to passenger ships trading between the British Isles and the Continent, within the limits of Brest and the River Elbe, could under a literal interpretation of the Convention be extended to passenger steamers engaged on any voyage of any length or character in which they did not go more than 200 miles from the nearest land. The provisions of the Convention if so interpreted, would result in a lowering of existing British standards of safety in the case of certain voyages. I am, however, advised that such a literal interpretation was not intended by the International Conference which drew up the Convention.