§ 40. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the recent developments in the saving of life at sea; and what is being done to apply these generally to British ships.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Member no doubt has in mind the advances introduced by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1948. The provisions of this Convention have been applied to British ships by the rules made under the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act, 1949, which came into force on the 19th November last—the date on which the Convention came into operation. These rules apply the provisions of the Convention in their full force to all ships whose keels are laid on and after that date, and, so far as is reasonable and practicable, to all other British ships.