§ Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General what is the average period of time that elapses between the issue of a writ in prize on behalf of the Crown and the final decree of condemnation when no claim has been made by any other party.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe average period in the case of ships has been 9.8 months and in the case of cargoes or items of cargoes 18.6 months. The Prize Court Rules provide that no ship or cargo shall be condemned in the absence of an appearance or claim until six months have elapsed from the service of the writ, unless it appears from the ship papers that the ship or cargo is liable to condemnation.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General how many writs in prize causes have been issued out of the Prize Court in London on behalf of the Crown since 3rd September, 1939, seeking the condemnation of ships and cargoes, respectively, on the ground that they were enemy property, contraband of war, or otherwise liable to condemnation; and how many final decrees of condemnation of ships and cargoes have been made by the Prize Court since that date.
§ The Attorney-GeneralWrits seeking the condemnation of (a) ships alone, (b) ships together with cargoes or items of cargoes, and (c) cargoes or items of cargoes alone, number 466, 328 and 743 respectively. Decrees have been made condemning 423 ships and 582 cargoes or items of cargoes. These figures include causes instituted by writs issued in Overseas Courts, the proceedings in which were transferred to the London Court.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General what is the number of ships in respect of which writs in prize have been issued out of the London Prize Court since 1939 for which the representatives of the Crown have applied and obtained from the Prize Court requisition orders; how many of 355W such vessels have subsequently been condemned by the Prize Court; what is the value thereof; and if he will confirm that this sum has been paid into Court or is covered by proper undertakings as to the payment into Court thereof.
§ The Attorney-GeneralRequisition Orders have been obtained in the case of 524 ships. Three hundred and eighty-nine of these ships have been condemned. Most of the ships have not been formally appraised. In the case of each ship an undertaking providing for the payment into Court of her value has been filed.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General what is the value of ships and goods condemned by the London Prize Court since 1939 as droits of the Crown and droits of Admiralty respectively.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe decrees made by the Prize Court do not distinguish between droits of the Crown and droits of Admiralty.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General what is the total amount of payments to innocent British and neutral claimants in prize causes recommended by His Majesty's Procurator-General to be met in the exercise of the bounty of the Crown.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe aggregate of such payments is £551,739 12s. 2d.