3. Mr. DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the prolonged delay in the payment of compensation awards granted by the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal to British nationals and of the very great inconvenience arising from such non-payment to the persons and firms concerned, and to the fact that no information as to when such awards are likely to be paid can be oh-tamed from the Controller of the Clearing Office (Enemy Debts), he will give information to the House of the position as it is known at the present time respecting the total realised value of German property in England, the estimated value of the property still to be liquidated, the total claims paid under Section 293 of the Treaty of Versailles, the debts paid, the debts outstanding and likely to be admitted, and the total claims under Section 297 of the same Treaty as to the proceeds of liquidation claim, the proceeds of liquidation paid, the total compensation claims put in, and the total compensation claims awarded to date; and what prospect there is of a payment on account of such awards being made at an early date?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe total realised value of German property in England up to date is £33,278,000, part of which will have to be accounted for to other custodians. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Kennedy) on the 22nd May. With regard to the remaining figures, particulars of which are requested, I would refer to the replies given to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Hood) on the 21st March. Since that date a further £1,226,354 has been paid to British creditors under Article 296, and a further £1,611,179 has been paid to British claimants under Article 297 in respect of the proceeds of liquidation of their property in Germany. The claims still outstanding under Article 296 amount to £25,430,128, to which interest up to the date of admission must be added. I am unable to estimate what proportion of these is likely to be admitted. The total amount of compensation claims awarded by the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal to date is £2,246,273. With regard to the last part of the question, I regret that it is not possible at the moment to make any statement.