§ 7. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that although the Rector of Cranford left his rectory near Heston aerodrome over two years ago, in accordance with the Air Ministry Act, 1939, he has received no part of the compensation payable to him; and whether he will authorise payment forthwith, either of a sum on account or of a yearly sum by way of interest, pending settlement of the amount?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)The rector's solicitors first asked on 25th June, 1942, for a payment on account of interest on the compensation to be paid in this case. As no claim for compensation has yet been formulated, a reply was sent asking that a detailed claim should be presented. In the meantime, a payment on account has been made.
§ Mr. KeelingIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that correspondence on this case has been going on for years, and is he happy that his Department should be stimulated into action not by the injustice of keeping this parson without compensation for over two years, but only by a Question being put on the Order Paper?
§ Captain BalfourI looked at these papers myself yesterday, and I am not at all satisfied with the way in which the matter has been handled; I am very glad the hon. Gentleman put down his Question so that the matter has been looked into.