§ LORD TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham),(on behalf of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Government are taking out a policy of £10,000,000 to cover the possible risk to private property owing to the approaching naval manœuvres; and whether any, and, if so, what arrangement is or will be made to provide compensation in the case of injuries to persons and loss of life which may accompany the contemplated loss of property.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Admiralty have agreed to indemnify the owners of ships co operating in the manœuvres against losses arising from such co-operation, including injuries to person as well as property. The Admiralty have in turn insured themselves against the liability so undertaken by them. The sum of £10,000,000 mentioned in the Question is the estimated value of the ships, including cargo, expected to co operate. The agreements are still under consideration by the Admiralty legal advisers and an advisory Committee representing the other interests involved.
In answer to Mr. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton) and others, Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON repeated that the 613 negotiations were still going on, and nothing definite had been completed.