Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Mr William Keenan
, Liverpool Kirkdale
12:00,
31 October 1949
asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that accommodation provided for ships' crews are reasonable and suitable; and if he is satisfied that shipowners are improving the accommodation for crews as laid down in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1948.
Mr Alfred Barnes
, East Ham South
Crew accommodation must comply with requirements which have been laid down after consultation with shipowners and representatives of the officers and men. My officers are responsible for enforcing these requirements and they do this by approval of plans and by inspection. The accommodation in new ships represents a great advance, and I am satisfied that the accommodation in old ships is steadily being improved as opportunity offers.
Mr William Keenan
, Liverpool Kirkdale
Is the Minister aware that in recent weeks a Liverpool crew of about 20 men were given a month's imprisonment at Northfleet because of walking off the ship on account of the conditions of accommodation? I raise the question now because inquiry is being made. After the men walked ashore the firm promised to put the accommodation right, but why did they not do so in the first place and stop the trouble with the crew?
Mr Alfred Barnes
, East Ham South
I shall be only too delighted to make an investigation on the lines that my hon. Friend has suggested. As I have indicated, surveys are continually taking place and when these opportunities occur considerable improvements are effected, as a rule.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
