§ Mr. Pounderasked the Minister of Transport what action he has taken to promote an improved design of life-jacket for use in merchant ships and fishing vessels.
§ Mr. MarplesIn October, 1963, I set up a Committee, on which the shipping and fishing industries and the seafarers' unions are represented, to consider the design of life-jackets in the light of the relevant provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960.
This Committee drew up a revised operational requirement for life-jackets to be used in merchant ships. Manufacturers of life-jackets have co-operated in producing prototype designs to meet these new requirements. Over twenty have already been tested and are now being modified to overcome various shortcomings before further testing.
My Department has already been able to accept one type of life-jacket as meeting the requirements of the 1960 Convention and others are likely to qualify in the near future. I am therefore confident that by the time the Convention comes into force on 26th May, 1965, several types of life-jackets will be available which will show a substantial improvement on existing types.