§ 54. Mr. Teelingasked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases have occurred during the past 12 months of British fishing vessels suffering damage to their equipment by mines or other relics of wartime activity; and what machinery exists to compensate for such loss and to provide equipment.
Mr. T. WilliamsFishermen are under no obligation to report such incidents to my Department. As a general rule I only hear of them when an appeal is made for compensation, and I am unable, therefore, to say how many have occurred. I am aware of 11 such cases. There is no fund from which I can pay compensation or replace gear lost. I understand, however, that payments have been made in some cases by the Departments concerned where they have accepted responsibility for the presence of the obstructions that caused the damage.