§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects that the sum of £5,000,000 to be paid by Germany on account of reparation, and used as a fund out of which ex-gratia payments can be made to individuals suffering from uninsured aircraft damages, whose claims are proved by a special commission to be appointed to examine them, will be forthcoming; and whether he can hold out any hope that these dilatory methods can be expedited in the interests of the British victims?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to add anything to his statement to this House on 4th May last with reference to the payment of compensation to individual civilians for losses sustained by them in the War; and whether, in the case of merchant seamen and others whose health has been undermined as a result of enemy action and are now in a condition of great need, he will take steps to set aside some fund from which they may be assisted immediately, to be made good out of the first receipts on account of reparation which are allotted to the Exchequer of the United Kingdom?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs I stated on 21st February, in answer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Rusholme (Captain Thorpe), the date at which payments of the kind in question can begin to be made to individuals depends on the prior receipt from Germany of payments on account of reparation.