§ 9. Sir W. DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the claim made 4½ years ago by Mr. Austin Kendall, late of the Indian Civil Service, of 47, Wynnstay Gardens, Kensington, for£1,000 in respect of loss of property sustained by him by reason of his ship, the Peninsular and Oriental liner "Multan," having been torpedoed by the Germans in the Mediterranean on 27th July, 1917, has not yet been heard by the Commission appointed to investigate these claims; what is the reason for the great delay which has occurred, whereby serious inconvenience and hardship have been sustained by the applicant; when it is expected that the Commission will be in a position to deal with 826 the matter; how many claims have still to be dealt with; and for how many years have most of them been outstanding?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in Committee of Supply on the 23rd February. Some 50,000 claims have still to be dealt with, received at various dates. I am not able to say when the Royal Commission will be in a position to make its recommendations with regard to cases of the class referred to.
§ Sir W. DAVISONCan the right hon. Gentleman say how frequently the Commission meets, and does he not think that it is really becoming rather a scandal that these claims, 4½ years old, have not yet been dealt with?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe difficulty arises from the number of claims.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not the fact that there is a specified sum available, and should not the claims be heard and, at any rate, those concerned get something, even if they do not get their full claim? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINYes.