§ 76. Colonel GRETTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if the Wood-Renton Commission or any other Commission in Southern Ireland is empowered to award compensation in cases of claims against the British 880 Government for injuries or losses arising from the action of the armed forces of the British Crown; if he will state the total sum awarded in such cases and the total sum paid by the British Government; and can he state the total amount of the claims outstanding?
Mr. THOMASAs the reply to this question is rather long, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel GRETTONIs the right hon. Gentleman able to give the information I asked for in the question, showing the claims made against the British Government?
§ Following is the reply:
§ I would refer the hon. and gallant Members to the Memorandum on Compensation presented to Parliament in April, 1923 (Command 1844), where the matter is fully dealt with. The sums refunded to the present time by the British Government to the Free State Government under the arrangement described in paragraph (c) of the second Section of that Memorandum amount to £2,569,430, and further claims for the refund of £90,805 3s. 9d. are at present under examination. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative,
§ 78. Colonel GRETTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if there has been any change, or if any change is contemplated, in the method of awarding compensation by the Wood-Renton Commission for damages for injuries and losses suffered by British subjects and others in Southern Ireland; and if he is aware that in many cases the awards have been quite inadequate for the loss sustained?
Mr. THOMASIn reply to the first part of the question, I am not aware that the Wood-Renton Commission have made or contemplate any such change. In reply to the second part, I have no reason to suppose that the awards of the Commission do not provide fair and reasonable compensation within the limits imposed by the Terms of Reference.
§ Colonel GRETTONHas the right hon. Gentleman examined for himself these claims and the awards made against such claims, and is he aware that in many cases the awards are absolutely grotesque, and that in claims amounting to several thousand pounds the awards have been £60, £70, or perhaps £100?
§ Mr. MILLSCould the right hon. Gentleman tell us if adequate consideration will be given to that particular claim made for the destruction of an autograph letter of the late Kasier?
Mr. THOMASIt is difficult to give an answer, because it implies that I am as competent to judge a matter on which I have not. as full evidence as the Commission set up, who have at their disposal all the material information. This body was set up by the late Government, and I am sure they satisfied themselves as to the wisdom of appointing this body, and the impartiality of the individuals composing it, and I am not going to question their judgment or impartiality.
§ Colonel GRETTONAre we to understand from that reply that the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to do anything in the matter?