§ Mr. Barnesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the cause of the fatalities to the crew of the steamship "Sea Rambler"; whether he is in a position to state that Board of Trade regulations were in any way infringed during this voyage; and whether a Board of Trade inquiry is to be held?
Mr. StanleyCertain members of the crew of the steamship "Sea Rambler" were taken ill while the vessel was at sea during August, 1936. On putting into Funchal, Madeira, for medical assistance, the disease was diagnosed by the local Port Medical Authorities as food poisoning in two cases and botulism in five cases and an entry in the log was made to that effect. Two of the men died on board and five men died in hospital at Funchal. Upon arrival at North Shields the usual statutory inquiry was held by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office on 14th and 15th September, 1936. The Superintendent endorsed the entry in the log. Since the inquiry was held, examination of blood samples from surviving members of the crew has shown that they had suffered from yellow fever. I have no reason to think that Board of Trade Regulations were infringed during the voyage.
I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my deep sympathy with the relatives of the men who died.