§ 9. Major LANE-FOXasked the Secretary of State for War what is the cause of the undue delay in paying the rent admited by the War Office to be due to the Rev. S. Howard Hall for land at Sherburn-in-Elmet, in Yorkshire, taken over for the extension of the aerodrome 1827 early in 1918, and whether he can hurry the payment of this debt, which has been repeatedly applied for?
§ Mr. FORSTERI understand that occupation was taken in this case under the Defence of the Realm Act, and therefore rent is not payable, but compensation is awarded in such cases by the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission. As regards the question of delay, I am informed that a claim in proper form was first submitted on 16th November, 1918, and that an amended claim was submitted on the 14th March by the solicitors acting for Mrs. Hall, who is the owner of the land. In forwarding this amended claim the solicitors did not complain of delay on the part of the War Department, but, on the contrary, regretted slight delay in consequence of their client's illness. There is, I gather, every prospect of the claim being settled now very expeditiously.