HC Deb 25 February 1929 vol 225 cc1554-5
25. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs why interest is not to be paid on the amount of the compensation awarded to ex-British civil servants in Southern Ireland from the date of their retirement, seeing that such compensation has, in accordance with the judgment of the Privy Council, been wrongfully withheld from them for a prolonged period and that they have lost the interest on the sum involved in many cases for several years?

Mr. AMERY

The point raised in my hon. Friend's question was examined before I replied to his question on the 20th February, but, after full consideration of all the relevant circumstances, the conclusion was reached that we should not be justified in making provision for the payment of interest on the additional sums now to be awarded by way of compensation to certain transferred Civil Servants in the Irish Free State.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of these ex-British Civil Servants retired as long ago as five years, and for that time have been kept out of their money to which the Privy Council held them to be entitled?

Mr. AMERY

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the actual sums in most of these eases are quite small.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is not that a very good reason why this grievance should be met, and interest paid on the money from the date of their retirement?

Commander OLIVER LOCKERLAMPSON

Is there any precedent for the refusal of interest for five years?

Mr. AMERY

I think that, on the contrary, in all these cases interest is not paid.

Mr. THURTLE

May we take it that this decision of the Government is always subject to reconsideration by the Cabinet?

26. Sir W. DAVISON

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the estimated amount which the British Government have agreed to pay by reason of the refusal of the Free State Government to pay the compensation which the Privy Council has held that ex-British Civil Servants in Southern Ireland are entitled to receive on retirement in accordance with Article X of the Anglo-Irish treaty?

Mr. AMERY

The amount to be refunded to His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State in respect of additional compensation to certain transferred civil servants under the agreement referred to in the reply which I gave my hon. Friend on the 20th February is estimated at £31,000 in the present financial year. This represents payments in respect of those officers to whom awards of compensation have already been made: the question of what further sum will be payable will depend largely on the number of future awards of compensation which may be made in respect of officers giving notice of retirement before the 1st March next, and cannot, therefore, be precisely estimated yet.

Sir W. DAVISON

Then I understand that on all the claims that have been received so far the amount payable by the British Government is some £31,000.