§ Major Petherickasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is now in a position to state the results of his re-examination of the possibility of amending the Maritime Board Agreement, so that payment of compensation may be made retrospectively from the beginning of the war to the next-of-kin of seamen who have lost their lives in respect of loss of kit?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe agreement made by the National Maritime Board concerning compensation for loss of effects covers cases of loss by marine risk. Like other agreements made by the Board it was freely negotiated by representatives of the officers and seamen of the Merchant Navy, and representatives of the owners. It is not the practice of His Majesty's Government to intervene in such negotiations. Agreements of this kind are not retrospective in effect, save in exceptional cases, and then only for a short period.