§ Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Mrs. E. Bugden, of 13, Bur-gate Street, Canterbury, widow of the second hand of the fishing smack "L. S. D.," late of Ramsgate, who lost his life through the blowing up of the ship by enemy action in 1914, has only been awarded £50 compensation, as compared with an amount of between £300 and £400 paid to the widow of the third hand and the sum of £1,050 paid to the widow of the skipper of the same vessel; and whether he will award Mrs. Bugden such extra compensation as will make the total compare favourably with the awards made to the widows of the other two seamen?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Mrs. Bugden's case was received too late for consideration by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, and; could only be considered in connection with the £300,000 fund provided for solatia to belated claimants. The maximum payment out of that fund is £50. The claims of the skipper and third hand were submitted in time for consideration by the Royal Commission in connection with the £5,000,000 fund. In the circumstances the answer to the second part of the question must, I regret to say, be in the negative.