§ Mr. Benjamin Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the medical officer for the Port of Grimsby reported a total of 353 British and foreign vessels with defective crews' accommodation in 1937 and that amongst the vessels there were 227 cases of structural defects caused by wear and tear in British ships alone; whether these cases were reported to the Board of Trade surveyor; and how many of the structural defects have been remedied?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware of the facts stated by the hon. Member. I am informed that the defects to which the hon. Member refers were not reported to the surveyor of the Board of Trade because they were of a minor character, and that 148 of the defects had been remedied before the end of the year 1937.
§ Mr. Benjamin Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he has noted that defects in crews' accommodation were reported in 128 foreign-going and 31 coastwise steamers at the Port of Grimsby in 1937, and that the defects were remedied in only 28 and eight cases, respectively; how many of these vessels were British; and what action has been taken against the masters or owners who have failed to arrange for the defects to be remedied?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware of the facts stated by the hon. Member. I am informed that 13 of the steamers in which defects were found were British, and that the defects in British steamers which were not immediately remedied were reported either to the owners or to the port health authority of the next port of call.