asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the British delegates at the international conference on the load-line regulations of ships will be instructed to insist on the heightened Plimsoll line or whether they will be free to revert to the original Plimsoll load water-line; and whether the British delegates will be instructed to support any proposal for a light load line with the object of increasing the safety of ships that go to sea in ballast?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to-day to another question from him bearing on this subject. As at present advised, I do not propose to refer the question of a light load line to the Committee which I am setting up.