§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Barry Davis who was charged £15,000 when his sailing boat "Samarkand", following storm damage, was towed into Gibraltar harbour by a Royal Air Force launch; and if he will ensure that a lower charge is substituted.
§ Mr. BlakerA Lloyd's open salvage agreement was signed following the salvage of Mr. Davis's ketch, and an independent arbitration hearing in January 1982 will decide what salvage award is payable. The sum of £15,000 is not a charge on Mr. Davis. It is normal practice to request appropriate security for salvage claims from the owners of salved vessels, and the sum stipulated in this case is a small proportion of the assessed value of the ketch.