§ 2. Colonel PERKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade how many cases have been investigated of claims under the war risks compensation scheme in respect of illness or death of men of the mercantile marine, due to the strain of constantly being in or passing through the danger zone?
Mr. WEBBThe total number of claims received under the war risks compensation scheme for the mercantile marine is over 18,000; but I am afraid it is not possible to give separately the number of claims due to the strain of constantly being in, or passing through, the danger zone.
§ Lord APSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that the sum of £300,000 is adequate for these claims?
Mr. WEBBI would point out that the war risks compensation scheme and other special war schemes for merchant seamen have been charged with payment of compensation which will amount in all to something like £11,000.000, and that the £300,000 is merely in respect of belated claims.
§ 3. Colonel PERKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade if the war risks compensation scheme takes into consideration claims by relatives of men who died from heat apoplexy in climates to which they were unaccustomed, and to which they were obliged to go on Government business although serving at the time in the mercantile marine?
Mr. WEBBThe war risks compensation scheme covers only. cases in which death, injury or ill-health was due to some specific war peril, such as being mined or torpedoed, or where it is clearly established on medical evidence that the death or ill-health was due to continuous and exceptional strain while trading in the danger zone and there is medical evidence of ill-health due to such strain before the termination of the last voyage on which the seaman passed through the danger zone. The circumstances described in the 1934 question would not appear to be such AS to bring a case within these limits, but if the hon. and gallant Member will send me particulars of any specific case he has in mind, I shall be pleased to consider whether the circumstances are such that the case can be regarded as coming within the scope of the war risks compensation scheme.