§ 77. Mr. CAREWasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any relief has yet been granted to the inhabitants of Hallsands, South Devon, whose houses were wrecked by the action of the sea owing to the removal of the beach for Government purposes?
Mr. ROBERTSI can only refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Tavistock Division on the 7th instant in which I stated that an ex gratia payment of £3,250 in all was made to the inhabitants of Hallsands by the Government and others in 1904 and was accepted in full settlement of all claims past, present and prospective, and that the Board of Trade were not prepared to accept any responsibility in respect of the unfortunate effects of the recent storms upon the village.