11. Colonel NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that payment of outstanding local rates is being insisted on by the Free State Government before they will honour awards made against them by the Wood-Renton Commission; whether, having regard to the fact that the security of the rates formerly enjoyed by holders of decrees for malicious injury under the Act of 1920 has been abolished by the Free State Government, he will say what is the connection between the payment of rates by the injured person and the payment to the injured person 1002 of compensation due to him by the Free State Government; and has the British Government agreed to this withholding of compensation in order to force payment of rates on property which has been rendered wholly or partly valueless by the Free State Government prior to July, 1921?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am informed that where, as a result of the inquiries which the Free State Government are bound to make as to whether there are any charges upon an award made by the Wood-Renton Commission, or upon a decree for which such an award has been substituted, it is found that local rates are unpaid, the attention of the solicitors for the applicant is called to the fact, and payment is invited; but that no deduction in respect of unpaid rates has ever been made from compensation awards. I am further informed that where property which would otherwise have been rateable has been destroyed, it is not the practice of the local authorities to enforce their demands for rates. In view of the fact that the Free State Government did not come into existence until 6th December last, I am unable to attribute any meaning to the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's question.
Colonel NEWMANIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have in my hand a letter from the Irish Minister of Finance, in which he says that this Act has nothing to do with the Minister of Finance or with the Irish Government, but is merely carrying out the instructions of the Wood-Renton Commission? Surely the Commission have laid down no instructions of this kind?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo. The Wood-Renton Commission have not laid down anything of this kind.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have seen the letter of which the hon. and gallant Gentleman very kindly sent me a copy, but it seems to me that the answer I have just given should clear the matter up.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORECertainly.
§ 12 Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there are a large number of claimants who obtained decrees for compensation for malicious injuries to property in cases defended by the local county council, and who subsequently converted such decrees into judgments of the High Court in Dublin, who, notwithstanding that over two years have elapsed, have failed to obtain payment from the Free State Government; whether these claimants are now being asked to accept sums substantially less than the amounts of the High Court judgments which they obtained by reason of the provisions of the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, recently passed by the Government of the Free State; whether, seeing that such provisions in the case of pre-Truce defended claims are a breach of the agreement entered into between the Irish Free State and His Majesty's Government, he will say what action is being taken in the matter?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo such cases as those referred to in the second part of the question have been brought to my notice. If the hon. Member will be good enough to supply me with particulars of the cases which he has in mind, I will look into the matter.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDo I understand that, as far as my hon. Friend knows, all pre-Truce defended decrees are being paid in full?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORESo I am given to understand.