§ 89. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Transport if he will seek, by legislation or otherwise, to free seamen from the risk of arrest when they fail to join their ship in time or refuse to sail because of dispute with the ship owners.
§ Mr. MarplesAs I said in an Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. J. Howard) on 15th November, 1963, I have initiated consultations with both sides of the shipping industry about the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to seafarers. I should not favour piecemeal alteration of the comprehensive code in the Acts, which allots both rights and obligations to seamen and to employers, with the safety of the ship as a primary consideration.