§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to take any steps in order that the masters and officers of merchant ships who are exonerated from blame at Board of Trade inquiries in the United Kingdom into shipping casualties will be allowed the legal costs necessary for the defence of their certificates, and also a reasonable sum for maintenance, according to the special circumstances of each case, until able to resume employment?
Mr. BUXTONMasters and officers who are detained in connection with wreck inquiries already receive subsistence allowances up to the close of the inquiry if they are exonerated. The question of making an allowance in respect of legal costs, except under an Order by the Court of Inquiry, presents great difficulties, and I am not prepared to make a statement on it at the present time.