Dr. Bennettasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will hasten his testing of lifejackets and other safety equipment in order to minimise the dislocation and delay caused to the manufacture and export of these appliances by British firms.
§ Mr. MasonMany items of safety equipment already approved for use in British ships are not affected by the 65W coming into force of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960. In respect of these items no further testing is required. The testing of lifejackets and other equipment for which the Convention lays down new requirements is proceeding as rapidly as possible. In several cases approvals have already been issued, for example for certain inflatable life-rafts and pyrotechnics.