§ 73. Major Sir HERBERT CAYZERasked the President of the Board of Trade how much money the Government have at their disposal of the fund set aside for the settlement of claims for suffering and damage by enemy action; and whether it is the intention to pay anything further in respect of those claims over and above the two-fifths which has already been paid?
Mr. GUINNESSAlthough the awards recommended by the Sumner Commission and those under the scheme for belated claims have for the most part now been paid, in exceptional cases it has not yet been possible to complete the work, and accordingly I am not at present able to state what, if any, balance of the money allocated will remain unexpended. In reply to the last part of the question, I fear that I can hold out no hope that there will be any increased payments over and above those made on the recommendation of the Royal Commission or under the scheme for belated claims.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill not the matter come up again if we receive substantial payments from Germany on account of reparations, and will not perfectly genuine claims then be reconsidered, when they have not received full compensation under this claim?
Mr. GUINNESSThese claimants have received in advance out of the reparations payments very much more than the proportion which they would have received if they had not been paid on account.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs not that simply because the Government 942 did not put in a sufficient claim and had not the evidence to put the claim forward? Are they not prepared to revise it?
Mr. GUINNESSHad the Government put in a larger claim still, the fixed amount of these private claims would have fallen to a smaller proportion, and, therefore, their present excess would have been far greater than it is.