§ 2. Sir ROBERT NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to hasten the activities of the Clearing House for Enemy Debts at Cornwall House now that the German clearing house has been at work for a number of weeks past; and whether he can name an approximate date upon which the British clearing house will begin to disburse to British creditors that which is due to them by German debtors, in accordance with the terms of the Peace Treaty?
§ Sir R. HORNEUnder the provisions of the Treaty the debtor clearing office is allowed three months within which to deal with a claim from the date of notification to it. British claims to the number of 34,806 were lodged with the German clearing office in Berlin on the 15th May, within a few days of its establishment, and a further batch of over 10,000 will be despatched next week. Debts will be paid by the British clearing office upon the receipt of notification of their admission by the German office. I am satisfied that there will be no avoidable delay at the British clearing office in making payment of debts owing to British creditors, as soon as the necessary notification has been received.