§ Colonel ROPNERasked the President of the Board of Trade when the necessary Bill to give effect to the convention relating to limitation of shipowners' liability and maritime mortgages and liens will be introduced?
§ Dr. BURGINThe Bill is still in course of preparation and I cannot indicate when it will be introduced.
§ Colonel ROPNERasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the supplementary agreement, which was stated by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade on 11th March, 1931, to be necessary before the convention on immunity of state-owned ships could be ratified, has yet been signed by the Powers concerned; and whether a Bill to give effect to this convention will be introduced this Session?
§ Dr. BURGINOf the 19 Governments whose representatives signed this Convention, eight have not yet signified their approval of the supplementary agreement, and in these circumstances it will not be possible to introduce a Bill this Session to give effect to the Convention.