§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEMy Lords, I rise to ask the noble Marquess the Leader of the House when he will be in a position to answer the Question on the subject of the Prize Claims Committee which is already on the Notice Paper.[†] Since I placed the Question on the Paper I have had communications from a good many quarters, which show that I was not wrong in thinking that this is a matter of very general interest.
[†] To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is true that they have set up a Prize Claims Committee to consider of a distribution to individuals, whose claims have been rejected by the Prize Court, of portions of Prize Money; and if so, whether they can inform the House what are its qualifications, and what cases in respect of what vessels and of what persons are now under consideration by that Committee; and whether it is intended that while all Prize Money is withheld from the officers and men of the Navy, part of it shall be distributed to persons selected by the Prize Claims Committee.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE)My Lords, I quite agree that the subject mentioned in the noble Earl's Question is one which excites a great deal of general interest. There is a sort of historical flavour attaching to Naval Prize which causes a great number of people to be interested in the subject besides those immediately concerned. The question is not only one of importance but it is also one, as I have no doubt the noble Earl recognises, of considerable complexity, and it affects more than one Department of the State. But if the noble Earl will put his Question on the Paper for to-morrow I shall hope to be able to give him an answer by then.