§ 25. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of British property destroyed in Hungary for which the Hungarian Government have accepted responsibility; and how much has been paid.
§ The Minister of State (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)I assume my hon. Friend is referring to property losses resulting from damage or injury as a result of the war or from special measures applied to such property. Under Article 26 (4) of the Peace Treaty the Hungarian Government is committed to provide in Hungary compensation in Hungarian currency to United Kingdom claimants who sustained such losses there. Three hundred and 996 forty-two such claims have so far been presented to the Hungarian Government through Her Majesty's Legation in Budapest. The total value of these claims according to figures supplied by the claimants is somewhat over 1,106 million forints. The Hungarians have so far failed to settle any of the outstanding claims. Her Majesty's Government have of course taken and will continue to take any suitable opportunity of pressing these claims on the Hungarian Government.