§ 12. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total sum that has been paid in compensation for damages in Ireland by His Majesty's Government; what is the amount still to be paid; and what was the total of the sums claimed by 7 applicants for compensation by His Majesty's Government for injuries and damage?
§ Mr. AMERYI apologise for giving a rather long reply to this question.
The total sum paid by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain in respect of compensation for damage to property in Ireland is —4,244,892. This sum includes the sum of —900,000 referred to in the agreement printed in Cmd. 2445, an unspecified proportion of which was payable in respect of the occupation of premises and other matters which might have been the subject of an award under the provisions of the Indemnity Act, 1920.
The amount still to be paid is approximately £194,000. Nearly the whole of this sum is in respect of awards issued subject to a reinstatement condition, so that the awards do not become payable until the condition is fulfilled.
In addition to the above payments, compensation in respect of personal injury amounting to £3,331,374 has been paid by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain, and ex gratia grants to refugees were made on the recommendation of the former Irish Grants Committee to an amount of approximately £35,000. The Irish Grants Committee, as recently reconstituted as the result of the Report of the Committee presided over by Lord Dunedin, has before it a number of applications for ex gratia grants in respect of injuries since 11th July, 1921. As regards these, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I am giving to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Lieut.-Colonel Howard-Bury).
As regards the third part of the question, I understand that what the hon. and gallant Member desires to ascertain is the total amount of the claims in respect of which the above payments have been made. Inasmuch as a considerable proportion of the claims did not specify any particular sum, it is not possible to give this information.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs is not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to give some information as to the amount that was claimed? Is he aware that, for example, in the case of War damages suffered by British residents, we have been able to ascertain the total 8 amount that was claimed and the total amount that was paid, and is not that possible in the case of Ireland?
§ Mr. AMERYI think that, for the reasons I have mentioned, it would not be possible to give any comparable figure which would be of real value. It would probably be in the neighbourhood of £20,000,000.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYGenerally speaking, would the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to say that the claims have been satisfied?
§ Mr. AMERYOf course, that would be a very difficult question to answer. Satisfaction depends upon the point of view of the claimants. The awards have been made by tribunals which went into the matter with every intention of treating every claim justly, and I believe that substantial justice has been done.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs it not the case that a great many claims have not been satisfied yet?
§ Colonel GRETTONis it not the case that claims for damages are a matter for the Irish Grants Committee, which is now sitting?
§ Mr. AMERYAs I have pointed out, the figures I have given do not include what may be done by the Grants Committee.