§ LORD ESLINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade, now that the Easter Recess will intervene before the Second Reading of the Merchant Shipping Bill, If he will inform the House whether the Government have any intention of modifying Clause 41 (the Liability Clause) of that Bill?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYSir, the Government intend to modify Clause 41 of the Merchant Shipping Bill referred to by the noble Lord as the Liability Clause. They propose to substitute for the provision, extending the unlimited liability of a shipowner, a provision preventing a shipowner from contracting himself out of his existing liability for damage caused by unseaworthiness.