§ 36. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Secretary of State for War when it is expected that the arrangements for compensation to the internees who were deprived of their property on the steamship "Dunera" will be completed; how many claims have been dealt with; how much compensation has been given; and how many claims still remain to be dealt with?
§ Sir E. GriggI am unable to give precise figures at present, but the position is that in some 390 cases of claimants who have returned to this country, payments have been made, or are in process of being made, to a total of roughly £4,500. 193 A further sum of about £1,400 has been authorised for payment to 122 claimants recently returned and will be made shortly. About 1,300 claimants still in Australia are being dealt with through the Home Office representative there who has already made payments in the great majority of cases, and has promised a full report by Air Mail as soon as settlement is completed. It has been found necessary to reserve a certain number of special items which present difficulty, e.g., as regards valuation, for separate consideration, and final settlement of these may take a little longer, but disposal of all outstanding claims is being expedited as much as possible.
§ Mr. HarveyWhile I thank my hon. Friend for his reply, is he aware that the good effect of the prompt action of the Government in granting compensation is being dissipated by the very long delay?
§ Sir E. GriggI am sure that my hon. Friend will realise that the fixing of a valuation that is fair to the taxpayer as well as to the people concerned, is not an easy matter, as some of these articles are very hard to value, especially when they include such things as the value of a novel in manuscript.
§ Mr. SorensenWhat is likely to be the approximate total of compensation to be paid to these people?
§ Sir E. GriggI must have notice of that question, but we have not got full information from Australia yet.