§ Mr. Benjamin Smithasked the Minister of Shipping whether, having regard to the fact that each new merchant vessel must be provided with one motor lifeboat, it is his intention to make it compulsory that, in future, all existing merchant ships shall be equipped with one motor lifeboat; and, if so, whether he can give the date from which this is to apply?
§ Mr. CrossAs the hon. Member is aware, the course he proposes would involve not only the provision of a large number of motors and the adaptation of existing lifeboats or the building of new ones, but also extensive alterations to the lowering gear on the ships themselves. I am afraid that this is not practicable in present circumstances.