§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Shipping whether he is aware of the appeals, presently being made, for the collection of cast-off clothing for seamen whose ships are blown up by mines; and whether he 992W will take the earliest opportunity of making it clear that any seaman so bereft of goods or garments will not be dependent on charity but will be clothed freely through Admiralty sources?
§ Sir J. GilmourI have not seen any such appeals, but I understand that they have been made by local bodies. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health stated on 1st February, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Birkenhead. East (Mr. White), the responsibility for providing such necessities as clothing for shipwrecked persons rests, in the first instance, with the county or county borough council concerned. It is not considered appropriate to supply men who have lost their effects with discarded clothing. The hon. Member will realise that compensation is paid to seamen for war damage to their effects under the Compensation to Seamen (War Damage to Effects) Scheme, 1939.