§ 70. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade the total 1914 number of applications to the Board of Trade under the War Risks Compensation Scheme, the number sent on to the Advisory Committee, the total number-decided against the applicants, and the number decided in their favour?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe War Risks Compensation Scheme has been in force since May, 1915, and over 12,000 awards of one kind or another have been made under it. It is not possible to give the total number of applications. An Advisory Committee was first set up in April, 1021, when the Board of Trade took over the whole administration of the scheme. Since that date, 119 cases have been referred to the Committee, of which 53 were admitted and 66 rejected.
§ 71. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether members of the Mercantile Marine and their dependants, who claim pensions or allowances under the War Risks Compensation Scheme and who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the Board of Trade or of its Advisory Committee, can appeal to any tribunal against such decisions, or whether it rests solely with the Board of Trade to grant or refuse applications and stop or reduce pensions, and, to decide whether cases should or should not be sent for the consideration of the Advisory Committee?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThere is no special tribunal to which appeal can be made against decisions of the Board of Trade under the War Risks Compensation Scheme, and there is no specific right of appeal to the Advisory Committee which assists the Board of Trade in dealing with border line cases, but, in fact, every case in which there is any ground for thinking that an award might be made under the scheme, that is, every case that is anywhere near the border line, is referred to the Committee and is dealt with in accordance with their advice.