HC Deb 23 February 1899 vol 67 cc271-2
SIR J. LENG (Dundee)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of money, in respect of the wages and effects of deceased seamen, during the last ten years, has been unclaimed by their relatives and representatives; how that sum has been appropriated; and whether such balances in future could be distributed in pensions to aged seamen?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon

Under the 179th section of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the Board of Trade cannot treat the wages and effects of deceased seamen as "unclaimed" until six years after their receipt. They are then paid over to the Mercantile Marine Fund in accordance with the same section. The amount of unclaimed wages and effects of deceased seamen so dealt with during the last ten years amounts to £35,448 11s. 6d. The amounts derivable from this source would not go far in providing pensions for aged seamen, and they are decreasing in consequence of the efforts made by the Board of Trade to discover the relatives of the deceased seamen. The revenue is, therefore, too small and too uncertain for the basis of a pension fund.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

May I ask whether any of this money due to deceased seamen has been appropriated for expenses of the offices of the Board of Trade?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE

No, Sir. It has been appropriated for the expenses of the Mercantile Marine Fund.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Which includes, among other things, the provision of offices?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE

Undoubtedly.