(1)No proceedings to enforce a claim for services rendered in retaking a ship, aircraft or goods taken by an enemy shall be instituted after the commencement of this Act without the consent of the Admiralty or the Secretary of State.
(2)Where any such proceedings have been instituted after the twenty-fifth day of January, nineteen hundred and forty-four and before the commencement of this Act and the claim therein has not been adjudicated upon before the commencement of this Act, it shall be dismissed unless the Admiralty or the Secretary of State consents to the prosecution of the claim before the expiration of two months from the commencement of this Act or before the claim is adjudicated upon, whichever first occurs.
(3)In any proceedings instituted after the commencement of this Act otherwise than to enforce such a claim as aforesaid, no such claim shall be made, or shall be relied upon by way of defence or otherwise, without the consent of the Admiralty or the Secretary of State.
(4)Evidence of the consent required by this section may be given by means of a document purporting to give the consent and to be signed on behalf of the Admiralty or the Secretary of State.
(5)In this section the expressions " ship" and " goods" have the same meaning as in the [27 & 28 Vict. c. 25.] Naval Prize Act, 1864, as amended by the [2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 65.] Prize Act, 1939.