§ Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to compel shipowners and shipping companies to improve the conditions and living accommodation for the crews on British ships.
§ Mr. Barnes:All new ships are surveyed under construction by the surveyors of my Department who see that the accommodation of the crew complies with the official requirements.
New instructions to surveyors were issued by my Department in January, 1946, embodying improvements in the standards applicable to new deep sea non-passenger ships of 3,000 gross tons and over. These were agreed, before issue, with the National Maritime Board Committee on crew accommodation, representing all sections of the shipping industry. As regards improvements in crew accommodation in existing ships, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 5th November to the hon. Member 374W for Newport (Mr.Peter Freeman) of which I am sending him a copy.