§ Mr. Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Health whether any progress has been made in the consideration of the difficult position in regard to insurance of a certain group of seamen who are resident in England but employed on vessels owned and registered in Eire?
§ Mr. BernaysI regret that it has not yet been possible to resolve the difficulties regarding the insurance of the small group of seamen resident in this country who are employed on ships owned and registered in Eire, and are consequently outside the Acts operative in the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend is anxious to remove these difficulties, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that any solution must be conditional upon the agreement of the Government of Eire to changes that would have to be made in the Order concerning reciprocal arrangements.