§ 5. Mr. WHITELEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Reparation Claims Department to ask applicants to renew their claims for compensation, as it is understood that many of the original applications cannot be traced?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am not aware of any cases where applications made to the Reparation Claims Department cannot be traced in that Department, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of any such case I will have it looked into.
§ 10. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Mrs. Rhoda Taylor, deceased, who resided at 62, Kirby Street, Mexborough, lost her life on 26th September, 1917, in very distressing circumstances as a result of a German Zeppelin air raid in that district, and that although repeated applications have been made for compensation for loss of life and expenses incurred, namely, medical attendance, funeral expenses, etc., no decision was reached until a few days ago, when the application was rejected; and will he institute inquiries into this and similar cases to ensure that all cases of real hardship shall receive sympathetic treatment?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEAs the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSSince the right hon. Gentleman is not announcing the terms of the answer, can he say if there is any possibility of this case being reconsidered?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI will read the answer. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have made inquiries with regard to Mr. Taylor's claim in respect of the death of his wife. I would point out that, under the terms of reference, the competence of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action is limited to consideration of claims which come within the terms of Annex 1 of Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles. Dependency by a claimant upon the deceased person at the date 2026 of death is a condition precedent to the foundation of a valid claim under the Annex in respect of the death of a civilian. Mr. Taylor has stated that his wife's occupation was that of housewife and that her income was nil, and, in the circumstances, the claim is one in which the Commission were unable to make any award.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that the loss in this case was a real loss and the damage to the home real damage; and since the husband had to employ some other person to whom wages had to be paid, over and above meeting the medical expenses and the expenses of the funeral, should not these facts have been considered when the claim was dealt with?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe loss of a wife, whatever the circumstances may be, is a very serious one, but the Commission are bound to act in accordance with the Regulations laid down by the Treaty of Versailles.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that the Commissioners are acting strictly in accordance with the amount of money at their disposal; and if so, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the situation should be changed in that respect and a much larger sum paid?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am afraid the hon. Member must address that question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I have to carry out the rulings of the Commission.
§ 11. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of money received by this country from the Reparations Commission; what proportion has been set, aside to meet the claims of applicants who incurred losses due to damage by enemy air raids; how many individual cases have been dealt with; how many cases are still waiting to be heard; and how long does he think it will take to dispose of all outstanding claims?
§ 17. Mr. T. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade how many claims for compensation for damage done as a result of enemy air raids on Goole have been received; how many have been dealt with; how many have been refused; what is the total amount of money paid up to 2027 date; and, if any claims are outstanding, the approximate date they are likely to be disposed of?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI regret that it is not possible, without detailed examination of all the records, to separate claims in respect of air raid damage from claims due to other causes arising out of the War.
§ Mr. STURROCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in an answer given the other day it was stated that no fewer than 12,000 claims await settlement; and cannot some special measures be invoked to expedite settlements?
§ Mr. SMITHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many complaints from people who write to the Department and whose letters are not even acknowledged?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI do not know of any such cases; if the hon. Gentleman will give me a case of any letter which has not been acknowledged, I will certainly take charge of it. The Department cannot, of course, make any payment, except in accordance with the rulings of the Commissioners. With regard to the question of delay, I think the cases to which the hon. Member for Montrose Burghs (Mr. Sturrock) refers are outlying claims at present before the Commission. It is for the Commissioners to decide in which of these cases they will make an award of compensation, but there is no delay in bringing the facts before the Commission.