§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the question of granting some form of compensation to the men of the Mercantile Marine for damage suffered physically and financially through the action of enemy submarines is still being considered; and whether, in view of the service performed by these seamen during the War, it will be possible to treat them in the same manner as the men of the Royal Naval Reserve in this respect?
§ Sir A. GEDDESCompensation is already granted in the case of officers and men of the Mercantile Marine who have been injured or incapacitated as a result of war perils. Extra wages have been paid to men whose ships were sunk as a result of enemy action in accordance with a scheme started in 1917. No further payment is being considered, and the reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.