§ 37. Mr. GRITTENasked the Prime Minister if he will state, in view of the great indigence and severe hardship caused to many very poor people in the Hartlepools who were rendered homeless by the bombardment of the towns by German cruisers so long ago as 16th December, 1914, when the Government 1958 propose to grant them enough compensation on which to subsist; and whether he is aware that the Reparation Claims Department, at Cornwall House, Stamford Street, S.E.1, in some cases have not even acknowledged the receipt of claims sent in?
§ Sir R. HORNEWith regard to the question of compensation to the sufferers in the bombardment of towns by German action, I have to refer the hon. Member to the answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4th May, 1920, to the hon. Member for the Ladywood Division of Birmingham. I am having inquiries made as to the acknowledgment of claims.
§ Mr. GRITTENMay I ask whether, seeting that these people have been waiting for five and a-half years, the Government could not be generous enough to make some advance by way of part payment of the reparation?
§ Sir R. HORNEA full statement was made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and perhaps my hon. Friend will refer to it.
§ Mr. GRITTENThat does not satisfy them.