§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why a member of the Belfast Harbour Police, who was shot by an Irish Republican Army gunman in the Belfast Harbour area, had his pay stopped by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners while in hospital, and in lieu of pay had to apply for a loan from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, which he had to promise in writing that he would repay when he received compensation.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe Belfast Harbour Commissioners are an independent statutory body, but I have obtained the following information from them. A Belfast Harbour constable was wounded on duty on 2nd December, 1971. Throughout his absence of 16 weeks, he received full pay less a deduction for the national insurance benefit which he was receiving. Purely for technical reasons connected with his compensation claim, 12 weeks' pay was treated as a loan from the Harbour Commissioners. Had his compensation claim failed, repayment of the loan would not have been required. In the event, his claim, in which he was entitled to include a claim for loss of earnings, was successful and the loan was repaid.