HC Deb 25 July 1956 vol 557 cc33-4W
Mr. Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) the approximate value of wreck delivered by receivers of wreck in England and Wales to owners of such wreck during each of the past fifteen years, respectively;

(2) the approximate value of wreck delivered by receivers of wreck in England and Wales to the persons entitled to receive such wreck as set out in Section 525 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, during each of the past fifteen years, respectively.

Mr. Watkinson

I regret that this information, which in any event is not available for the years before 1944–45, could only be assembled by an undue expenditure of time and effort.

Mr. Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of persons who have delivered to receivers of wreck in England and Wales statements containing particulars of title and an address to which notices may be sent as required by Section 524 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

Mr. Watkinson

376 persons whose claims have been admitted. No record is kept of the number of persons whose claims were not substantiated.

Mr. Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the approximate value of wreck taken into the possession of receivers of wreck in England and Wales during each of the past fifteen years, respectively.

Mr. Watkinson

For the fifteen years 1939–40 to 1953–54 the figures are as follows:

Year. Approximate value of Wreck.
£
1939–40 23,445
1940–41 17,319
1941–42 21,679
1942–43 22,620
1943–44 12,920
1944–45 16,130
1945–46 12,988
1946–47 20,051
1947–48 21,796
1948–49 10,406
1949–50 20,220
1950–51 6,710
1951–52 21,339
1952–53 14,030
1953–54 64,367

These figures do not include the value of property returned to owners, the value of Government property salvaged, the full value of wreck sold to salvors free of salvage award or the value of wreck abandoned to salvors in lieu of salvage. The year 1953–54 is the latest complete year for which figures are available.

Back to
Forward to