§ 44. Mr. ERSKINEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that claims arising out of the sinking of the "Lusitania" seven years ago are still unsettled; whether a large: and expensive staff is kept at Cornwall House, Stamford Street, for dealing with such claims; and what is the total cost there of per annum?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The claims referred to in the question fall within the Reparation Part of the Treaty of Versailles and are being submitted with reparation claims generally by the Reparation Claims Department to the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action. It is not possible to separate the cost of this particular work from the other functions of the Reparation Claims Department. The total present cost of the whole Department is at the rate of £40,000 per annum.