§ 2. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in arranging for the incorporation of the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, into the respective legal systems of Aden, Antigua, Saint Christopher-Nevis-An-guilla, Saint Helena and Tonga.
§ Mrs. HartIn regard to Antigua, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla and Tonga, I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. and learned Member last summer. The provisions of the 1958 Act have been incorporated into the legal system of St. Helena through the Ship-owners' Liability (St. Helena) Order 1966.
As far as Aden is concerned, questions should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWill the hon. Lady point out to those territories which do not want this Act that there is an infinitesimal limit of liability of £7 per ton for their citizens under the present law and that, unless they adopt this Act in their courts, their people will suffer very real hardship in a similar case to the "Torrey Canyon"?
§ Mrs. HartI am sure that those territories which have responsibility for making their own decisions will have in mind the implications of the "Torrey Canyon" disaster.