§ 2 and 3. Mr. Knox Cunninghamasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) when the international Conference to consider the draft convention of the International Maritime Committee relating to the limitation of liability of owners of seagoing vessels will be held;
(2) the nature of the communications which have passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the 1223 Kingdom of Belgium with regard to the holding of an international Conference to consider the draft convention of the International Maritime Committee relating to the limitation of liability of owners of seagoing vessels.
§ Mr. ProfumoHer Majesty's Government are anxious that this Conference should take place as soon as possible, and, as I have already informed my hon. Friend, it is hoped that it will be held next year. Her Majesty's Embassy in Brussels has been instructed to ask the Belgian Government, who are responsible for convening the Conference, how soon it is likely to take place.
§ 4. Mr. Knox Cunninghamasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the opposition which exists in the United Kingdom to the retention of any statutory right of the owners of vessels to limit their liability when claims are brought in respect of personal injuries or loss of life; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to meet this view.
§ Mr. ProfumoI am aware that there are differing opinions on this subject, and this makes it all the more important to secure international agreement on the extent of the liabilities of shipowners. Their liabilities in respect of claims for personal injury or loss of life are covered by a new draft convention which will, I hope, be the subject of an inter-Governmental conference at an early date. The prior introduction of legislation would, therefore, be inappropriate.
§ Mr. Knox CunninghamWould my hon. Friend answer this question? If he were walking on the Embankment and were run into by a motor car he would recover in full. If he were a few feet away in a small boat he would possibly recover only a small percentage of his claim. Under what principle does he say that there should be that differentiation?
§ Mr. ProfumoI think that is a hypothetical question, but I did not say there should be that differentiation. All I said was that it would be inappropriate to introduce legislation in advance of the inter-Governmental discussions which we hope will take place on this matter at an early date.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes the hon. Gentleman not realise that this is a very important matter? What steps are being taken towards resolving it?
§ Mr. ProfumoIf the hon. and learned Member would, perhaps, look in HANSARD at the previous Questions and the Answer which I gave to them, he will see what action we are taking. We certainly do regard this as a very important matter indeed.