Mr. B. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the discussions taking place between his Department and the Classification Societies on the question of the seaworthiness of ships, he will also take into consultation the representative organisations of the officers and the seamen?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe main subject of consultation with the Classification Societies is the procedure in connection with load-line surveys. In this matter the Classification Societies act as agents of the Board of Trade. The discussions are necessarily of a technical character. Revised instructions regarding annual load-line surveys will shortly be issued, but they will first be referred in draft to the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee, on which the officers' and seamen's organisations are represented.