§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the report of the working party appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians to review the operation of the medical and visual standards for serving seafarers.
§ Mr. David MitchellI received the report on 5 July and I have placed copies in the Library. I have decided to adopt the revised medical standard attached to the report, except that I am bound by an international convention to continue annual medical examinations of seafarers under 18 years of age. Adoption will not preclude further amendment to the medical standards in the light of any comments I might receive from either side of the shipping 209W industry, to whom copies of the report will be sent. I shall consider, in consultation with the industry where appropriate, how far and in what ways I should adopt the further recommendations regarding the administration of the medical examination system.