§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the principal matters upon which agreement was reached at the recent Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Law at its meetings in Brussels; and what action is contemplated by Her Majesty's Government for the implementation of the Conventions which were approved there.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have been asked to reply.
The tenth session of the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Law drew up 36W International Conventions on the Limitation of Shipowners' Liability and on Stowaways. A revised draft Convention on Liability towards Passengers is to be circulated for consideration by Governments. The United Kingdom Delegation were not able to support the Convention on Stowaways. They gave their support to the Convention on the Limitation of Shipowners' Liability, which is now being studied by Her Majesty's Government. It is intended to issue the text of this Convention shortly as a White Paper, when it has been signed on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.