§ 31. Mr. TICKLERasked if the Secretary to the Admiralty can recommend the payment of compensation to the wives and children of skippers and mates who have lost their lives through their vessels being blown up with mines since the War began, as the Government has already expressed their intention to pay such compensation from the 18th February. 1915?
Mr. RUNCIMANIt is the intention that the scheme for the payment of compensation in the event of death or injury in the case of masters, officers, and seamen on British merchant ships, which was announced on the 19th February, should be retrospective and date back to the beginning of the War. The question whether the scheme should be extended to fishing vessels is now being considered.