§ 58. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will hold a public inquiry under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, in addition to the inquiry already initiated under the Fatal Accidents 82W Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1895, into the wreck with loss of many officers and crew of the Scottish Fishery Cruiser "Vaila" off the coast of Ross and Cromarty on 6th January, 1957.
§ Mr. Neave:The Merchant Shipping Acts do not apply to the "Vaila", since she was a Crown ship and was not registered under the Acts. There is therefore no power for a court or a wreck commissioner to hold a formal investigation under the Merchant Shipping Acts into this casualty.