§ 66. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that out of £5,000,000 of German reparations earmarked for British seamen £500,000 remains unexpended, and that, in addition, there is a residue of the additional £300,000 allocated for belated claims, and what steps he proposes to take in order to satisfy the claims of those merchant seamen who have not yet received the money to which they are entitled?
The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Guinness)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a question by the hon. Member for the Edge Hill Division on the 23rd June. In reply to the last part of the question the payment of amounts awarded out of the Votes of £5,000,000 and £300,000 to those claimants who have not already been paid is being completed as rapidly as possible.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of seamen consider their claims have not been met, and that they have not received the monies to which they are entitled?
Mr. GUINNESSI understand Lord Sumner's Committee went into all these claims and made assessments, but we cannot tell exactly how the payments 2527 will pan out until the process is completed.
§ Sir F. WISEHow much of the £300,000 has been contributed?