Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the claims against the German Government of Mr. James Ritchie, and other fishermen, of Gourdon, Kincardineshire, for losses during the War have not yet been paid; and can he hold out hopes of an early settlement of the matter?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Regarding the second part of the question, in so far as the losses in question consist of loss of personal effects caused by enemy action at sea, claims in respect of these losses are being dealt with, along with the death and personal injury claims upon which the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action are at present engaged. Awards in these cases will be paid after the Royal Commission have made their Interim Report, but in cases of extreme hardship and urgent need immediate payments on account are made upon the recommendations of the Royal Commission. The Royal Commission are postponing the consideration of losses of property, other than personal effects, until after they have disposed of the death and personal injury cases.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CAMPIONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange that compensation for losses sustained by British nationals in France and Belgium during the late war, in cases already examined and approved by the Board of Trade, shall be paid out of the next payment of reparations by Germany?
§ Mr. BALDWINI regret that I cannot modify the present arrangement under which claimants for such compensation may participate in the sum of £5,000,000 voted for distribution on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action.