12. Mr. LAWasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed to offer any compensation to those sharemen who have lost their employment through the action of the Admiralty in taking over steam trawlers from Hull and other ports who have not the advantage of unemployment insurance and who were not given the opportunity of serving under the Admiralty?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley)These trawlers were purchased from the owners as an ordinary commercial transaction, and I regret that no grounds exist on which compensation could be paid. I may add that several of the trawlers are being fitted for Admiralty service by local establishments.
13. Mr. LAWasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider giving to the deck-hands, engineers, and sharemen who have lost their employment through the action of the Admiralty in taking over steam trawlers from Hull and other ports, the same compensation which is offered by the Board of Trade when the crew lose their employment through a Board of Trade inquiry?
Lord STANLEYI would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the previous question. As he is aware, the Admiralty have offered the opportunity of engagement to the crews of all the vessels, with the exception of the skippers and second hands.
Mr. LAWDoes not the noble Lord consider that the skippers and second hands have a legitimate grievance in this matter since they do not get unemployment insurance and do not have an opportunity of alternative employment; and will he not reconsider his decision that nothing can be done to help these men?
Lord STANLEYI think that there are really no grounds for the payment of compensation in these cases.