§ 5. Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, in his Department's Press Notice No. 14, dated 16th October, 1946, issued to fishermen instructing them to carry out certain methods with regard to dealing with foreign objects in their nets, he stated that his Department would bear no responsibility for damage or injury brought about by carrying out this instruction; and if such instructions are in accordance with his Department's procedure.
Mr. DugdaleThe notice was purely an endeavour to give fishermen the best technical advice on how to deal with potentially dangerous objects which might become entangled in their fishing gear while trawling. Any claims for damage to property which might occur in such circumstances would normally fall to be considered under the appropriate scheme of the Board of Trade or under any private insurance cover effected by the claimant, and claims for personal injury would similarly fall to be considered by the Ministry of Pensions.