HC Deb 21 February 1939 vol 344 cc215-6W
Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether port medical officers of health are required to notify the owners of vessels in cases in which nuisances or defects in crews' accommodation are not remedied after notice has been served on the master?

Mr. Elliot

There is no requirement that nuisances should be notified to ship owners in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers, but port health authorities are empowered by statute to have recourse to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction in case of default. As regards defects of construction in crews' accommodation, it is the practice to bring any such defects as may be observed by their officers in the course of inspection to the notice of the surveyors of the Board of Trade.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the general practice for a port medical officer of health to forward to the medical officer at the next port of call particulars of any nuisances or structural defects in vessels which were not remedied before the departure of the vessels from the port of detection?

Mr. Elliot

I understand that the practice to which the hon. Member refers, which is not a statutory requirement, is adopted by many port medical officers of health, but I have no information as to its extent.