Captain Duncanasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport by what date does he expect that all tankers will have complied with his Order of July, 1942, to have steel lifeboats installed; and whether wooden lifeboats fitted with the new protective devices count as steel lifeboats for the purpose of this Order?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAs I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on 3rd November, half the tanker fleet was already provided with steel lifeboats in July, 1942. It is estimated that the figure now approaches two-thirds. The object now in view is to provide tankers as rapidly as possible either with steel lifeboats of the new design embodying special fire protective devices or with converted boats embodying similar devices. Wooden boats so converted will be accepted in lieu of steel boats. The date when all tankers will be so provided cannot be estimated until further experience has shown how rapidly new boats can be produced and existing boats converted. In the meantime, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that all tankers have long been provided with special equipment for protecting their crews against fire, including water sprays and asbestos blankets in the lifeboats, and fire-resisting hoods for all members of the crew.