HC Deb 25 February 1958 vol 583 cc29-30W
Mr. Woollam

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which maritime nations have in force regulations making radar training compulsory for a certificate of competency for ships' officers.

Mr. Watkinson

The Government of Australia, New Zealand, India and the Irish Republic have imposed requirements, similar to those in force in the United Kingdom, that no new certificate of competency as second mate (foreign-going) should be issued unless the candidate also holds a radar observer's certificate. I understand that other Common? wealth Governments have the matter under active consideration. So far as I am aware no foreign Governments have yet introduced comparable requirements.

Mr. Woollam

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the Annual Report for 1957 of the Liverpool Underwriters Association urging early agreement between maritime nations to make radar training a compulsory requirement for ships' officers; and what proposals he has in mind for effecting such an agreement.

Mr. Watkinson

I have already notified Commonwealth Governments of the United Kingdom requirement and a number of them have introduced similar provisions. I am now drawing the attention of other maritime nations to our action and I hope that this will lead to a greater appreciation of the need for such a requirement.

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