Dr. VERNON DAVIES:

asked the President of the. Board of Trade if it is proposed that the joint committee recently set up by the Minister of Health and himself shall inquire into the question of hygiene of crews' spaces, with a view to reporting on the sufficiency and efficiency, or otherwise, of the existing sanitary code to secure a reasonable standard of sanitary requirements for all British ships?

The question of crew spaces on board ship is within the scope of the Joint Advisory Committee> set up by the Ministry of Health and Board of Trade, and a special series of reports on the subject have been placed before the Committee for their consideration.

Dr. DAVIES:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received representations from the Society of Medical Officers of Health, the Royal Sanitary Institute, the Merchant Service Guild, and the Association of Port Sanitary Authorities, stating that the conditions under which merchant seamen are housed on British ships are, from a hygienic standpoint, unsatisfactory and inferior to those on ships of similar tonnage of certain other nationalities; and what reply he has returned?

Representations have been received from one of the bodies mentioned. No detailed reply was sent, but those representations will be considered in connection with any Amendment of the crew space regulations, which are now under review. The conditions on some British ships, especially some of the smaller and older ships, cannot be regarded as satisfactory, and the conditions on some foreign ships are very good; but it is misleading to suggest that crew spaces on British ships generally are unsatisfactory from the hygienic standpoint and inferior to those on foreign ships.

Who is reviewing this matter? Is it the Board of Trade itself?

No, the Joint Advisory Committee representing the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Health.

Dr. DAVIES:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that during 1917 and 1918 the Board of Trade possessed statutory powers to decide the type and position of crews' spaces on British merchant ships; to insist upon the provision of such amenities as two-berth cabins, mess rooms, bath and wash rooms, drying rooms, outside oilskin lockers, and hospital room, as well as to compel we accommodation as a matter of necessity and without consideration respecting tonnage reductions; that these powers are not at present being enforced: and does he propose to take any steps to restore these war-time amenities to merchant seamen in British ships?

The statutory powers of the Board of Trade in this matter have not changed, and any changes made in the instructions have been in the direction of requiring a higher standard. I may add that many owners go considerably beyond the minimum requirements.