§ 76. Sir BASIL PETOasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to state how many applications from Southern Irish loyalists to the Irish Grants Committee have been made, and how many of them have been heard or otherwise dealt with un to the present time; what is the aggregate amount claimed, recommended, and paid, respectively, in such cases; and how many of the applications have been refused as not coming within the Committee's terms of reference?
§ Mr. AMERYI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 30th May to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford.
§ 77. Sir B. PETOasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that many Southern Irish loyalists are suffering financial embarrassment in consequence of the long delay in settling their claims, and that many are unable to make arrangements for their future owing to the want of knowledge of what compensation may be ultimately payable to them and the uncertainty as to payment being made; and whether he can indicate any date by which a decision on the claims already made can be announced?
§ 78. Lieut.- Colonel HOWARD - BURYasked the Secretary or State for Dominion 393 Affairs if he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists at home and in the Dominions as to the treatment of Irish loyalists and the delay in redeeming the pledges for their compensation; and, seeing that this question has remained so long unsettled, and with over 2,000 cases still remaining to be investigated, can he state whether, before his departure for the Overseas Dominions, arrangements will be made for the final settlement of these cases?
§ Mr. AMERYI will answer these questions together. I am aware that in a number of cases persons who have submitted applications to the Irish Grants Committee are suffering financial embarrassment owing to the time which has inevitably elapsed before their claims can be dealt with; and it is for this reason that I am very ready to receive and act upon the recommendations which, as I have informed the House, I receive from time to time from the Committee for immediate interim payments or advances. I regret that it is not possible for me at present to make any forecast of the date when the Committee will have finished their work so that His Majesty's Government can consider their recommendations as a whole and reach a final decision thereon; but I can assure the House that the Committee are dealing with the cases before them as expeditiously as is consistent with a proper consideration of the facts of each case.