§ 11. Colonel PERKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it has now been settled that all belated claims to the Reparation Claims Depart- 1148 ment are to be individually considered and not decided as a whole; and whether, seeing that there are some thousands of men awaiting a definite announcement on the point, he will issue a general notification that this is the case, and at the same time give some idea of the approximate period which will be needed to examine these cases and so obviate the anxiety which exists in the minds of those concerned?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a notification which is being forwarded to every person who makes, or has made, a belated claim, asking whether there are any exceptional circumstances to excuse the delay in lodging their claim. All the replies are being considered individually, and there seems to be no need for a general notification to this effect. I regret that I cannot say how long the examination will take.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERCould the right hon. Gentleman state what sum of money is still available for the satisfaction of these belated claims?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo, Sir. As my hon. Friend knows, a total sum of £5,000,000 has been allotted to the Royal Commission, and, until I know how the Royal Commission is going to deal with the other set of claims which have already been made, I cannot answer that question.
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI should like notice of that question. In this matter, as the hon. Member knows, I am merely carrying out whatever awards are made by the Commission.