§ 10. Sir PHILIP RICHARDSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to expedite the payment of compensation for damage arising out of enemy action in October, 1915, in the case of claimants of advanced age?
§ 14. Mr. SHORTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the dependants of many seamen lost during the War owing to enemy action have not had their claims recognised by the Reparation Claims Department owing to the claims having been preferred after October, 1922; and whether it is the intention of the Government to make a further grant in order to meet these belated claims?
§ 17. Mr. H. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that claims have been sent for the consideration of the Reparation Claims Department for upwards of 12 months, and that the applicants are still waiting for decisions; and whether he can take steps to expedite the proceedings and Report of the Royal Commission appointed to consider belated claims?
§ 18. Captain WEDGWOOD BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say when he will be in a position to state whether the sum of £5,000,000 allotted for meeting the claims of British nationals for compensation for suffering or damage arising out of enemy action is or is not adequate; and whether the Government proposes to add to this sum in the event of its proving insufficient?
§ 19. Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many working-class families in the borough of Deptford have not received compensation for the destruction of their homes resulting from the Zeppelin raid in September, 1915; and whether he will endeavour to meet such claims without imposing further hardship upon the sufferers?
Mr. WEBBI would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made on the Motion for the Adjournment on 21st February. I hope in the course of the next few weeks that something definite will be done.
§ Captain BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that adequate dealings consisted in the statement that nothing was decided? Can he tell us whether he intends to meet these claims if they are approved by the Commission?
Mr. WEBBI am sorry to say that I have not yet received the Report of the Commission. I understand that that Report is a final Report of the Commission, and that the Commission has found itself unable to consider these belated claims. When we get that Report the Government will consider what action ought to be taken on it.
§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to get the Report; is he aware that there have been constant complaints about the delay in this matter?
Mr. WEBBI should like to draw the attention of the House to the fact that the delay has been going on for several years and that the Government with which I am associated has only been responsible for about four weeks of that.
Mr. WEBBNo, I cannot say that. I should think it is very unlikely that the Royal Commission would have suggested the distribution of more than was referred to it.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINCan the right hon. Gentleman say what has already been paid out?
Mr. WEBBI think something over £2,000,000 has been paid out under the first Report of the Royal Commission two years ago.
§ Sir CHARLES STARMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere are many questions on the Paper.