§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade compensate officers and men of the mercantile marine for the loss of their effects if the ship in which they are serving is destroyed or sunk by the enemy; whether he is aware that the second and third mates and two apprentices of the ss. "Dulwich" have received no compensation, although they have lost all their effects; and whether he will inquire into the case?
Mr. RUNCIMANAs I informed the Noble Lord on 11th February, the Board of Trade are prepared to give special facilities for insuring at a reasonable rate of premium the effects of masters, officers and seamen for moderate amounts against war risks, and a scheme of insurance of this kind is about to be put into operation immediately. An insurance scheme could not, I am afraid, be made retrospective, and therefore could not apply to the case of the "Dulwich."