§ 126. Mr. Haworthasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that, as a result of the fire on the s.s. " Milwaukee," on 1st-2nd March, 1946, at Liverpool, approximately 200 sets of joiners' and shipwrights' tools were lost and have not been replaced; that many of these men have been served with notices by their employers; and whether he will take special steps to see that these tools are replaced at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. BarnesI am aware of the loss of tools as a result of this fire, but the terms of the contract with the firm who were engaged in fitting the "Milwaukee" for Government service do not make my Department liable for the loss. In this respect, I am advised that the Department's position is the same as in normal commercial practice. I am making further inquiries, but meanwhile I am informed that the employers concerned have issued sufficient tools on loan to enable the men to carry on and that none of the men have been served with notices as the result of any loss they sustained by the fire, although the loss of the ship has no doubt reacted on the amount of work available in particular trades.