§ 19. Mr. WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of reparation claims against the £5,000,000 which are still unsettled, and the number of belated claims so far received against the proposed solatium of £300,000?
Mr. WEBBThe number of claims against the £5,000,000 which are still unsettled is 1,341. The number of claims in the belated category is 25,550.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHWill the £300,000 allow of the belated claims being paid in the same proportion as those who applied earlier?
Mr. WEBBAs I have already explained, it is impossible to come to any conclusion on that subject until we have ascertained what is the volume of the 25,000 odd belated claims and the others which are still to come in, and how much, roughly speaking, they involve.
§ Sir PHILIP LLOYD-GREAMEWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us how it was that he came to fix a sum of £300,000?
Mr. WEBBIt has already been explained repeatedly how that was arrived at, and the right hon. Gentleman must be familiar with the procedure in these cases.
§ 22. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that claims amounting to £86,629 5s. 3d., made by 969 persons in the borough of Ramsgate, were lodged with the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action; and whether he will ascertain to what sum that amount was reduced on assessment?
Mr. WEBBIn view of the fact that the claims are not classified according to the postal addresses of the claimants, it would be difficult and extremely costly to furnish the information desired with regard to any particular borough. I would refer to the answer given on this point, to the hon. Member on 10th March.
§ 23. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the definite fixing of the last day for the submission of claims in respect of suffering and damage by enemy action, he will arrange for town clerks in districts which were affected by enemy action to be supplied with forms of claim, so as to avoid delay being caused through claimants having to apply for them to the Reparation Claims Department?
Mr. WEBBThe issue of blank forms to town clerks was found in the past to result in confusion, and in the duplication of some claims and the omission of others. The practice cannot now be revived, but if town clerks forward names and addresses of claimants to the Reparation Claims Department, the necessary forms will be sent to the claimants at once.