10. Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that trawlermen, taking in unexploded mines which they have fished up at sea, receive no remuneration for the risk they run nor for the damage done to their trawl nets; and will he consider the desirability in the public interest of making some payment, in order to encourage the search for these mines?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe answer to the first part is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, it is not considered in the public interest to encourage search for these sunken mines.
§ Mr. E. BROWNHave the Admiralty any figures of the number of mines found in recent times?
Mr. ALEXANDERI think we could supply the information, but whether it is worth the cost I am not quite sure.