§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement about the actions and 127W votes by representatives of Her Majesty's Government at the International Conference in Belgium in October, 1957, with particular reference to the limitation of liability by ship owners for loss of life and personal injury and to the use of life-saving apparatus.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe subjects discussed at the tenth session of the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Law in Brussels which ended on 10th October last, were three draft Conventions on the limitation of shipowners' liability, on liability in respect of passengers, and on stowaways. The use of life-saving apparatus was not discussed.
The United Kingdom delegation supported the principles contained in the Convention on the Limitation of Shipowners' Liability and voted for the acceptance of the Convention by the Conference. This Convention deals with liability both in respect of loss of life and personal injury and in respect of loss of, or damage to, property.
The United Kingdom Delegation were unable to support the Convention on Stowaways.
The draft Convention on Liability in respect of Passengers was revised by the Conference and will be circulated to Governments for further study.