§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the President of the Board of Trade, If, in view of the discussion of the Merchant Shipping Bill, he will give the number and the names of the over-insured vessels which, to the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government, have been lost at sea during the period of the past five years?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, I am sorry to say I have no information as to the amount of insurance effected in the great majority of cases on the vessels which have been lost during the last five years. Insurance is a private contract, and I have no means of obtaining these particulars. Recently, I have instructed the Board of Trade Representatives to make special reference to insurance in all the inquiries held before the Wreck Commissioner; but where the owner declines to give the information asked for, I have no power, under the present law, to compel him to do so.
§ MR. O'DONNELLsaid, that on Monday he should ask whether, in the absence of such statistical information, the right hon. Gentleman still intended to have the Merchant Shipping Bill sent before a Committee from which a majority of Members of the House were excluded, and which was incapable of hearing evidence? He would now ask the Question on the subject of which he had given Notice—namely, Whether there is any truth in the statement which has appeared in the public Press, that the representatives of the shipping interest have proposed terms of arrangement to him on the subject of the Merchant Shipping Bill; and, if he can state the nature of those terms?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI have not seen the statement referred to by the hon. Member, and if such a statement has been made it is not true. Individual shipowners have offered suggestions, many of which I shall be glad to adopt; and I have always expressed my readiness to consider favourably any proposals for the amendment of the Merchant Shipping Bill which do not conflict with its main objects.