§ 56. Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the Secretary to the Treasury, whether Mr. Bixby, of Crowlands Farm, Romford, is seeking to obtain damages from the Treasury for the loss of a horse on 23rd March, 1916, due to negligence on the part of a driver of a military vehicle; that delay on the part of the military authorities and the Treasury has caused such a waste of time that the Treasury are now enabled to claim statutory protection under the Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893, which provides that if action is not instituted within six months legal proceedings are precluded; and if the Treasury intend to shield themselves behind this Statute and thus prevent the case being tried on its merits before a Court of Law?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware of all the details, but I can assure the hon. Member that the defence of statutory protection will not be pressed in this instance.