§ Mr. GROVESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the circumstances attending the refusal of compensation to Mr. G. W. Brooks, of 123, Godwin Road, Forest Gate, whose house was destroyed, and whose furniture was lost, during an enemy aircraft raid on 17th June, 1917, and whose claim was submitted in 1922 under the number of A/05,078/P; and whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the fact that in 1916 His Majesty's Government published that owners of property in the United Kingdom of an aggregate value not exceeding £ 500 will be compensated by the Government in respect of damage or destruction of any such property by the perils coverable by the Government aircraft policy, whether the property be insured under the Government insurance scheme or not, this man has been refused compensation under the statement that he should have been reasonably insured?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThis belated claim has received careful consideration. Mr. Brooks at one time was insured against air raid under the Government Air Raid and Bombardment Insurance Scheme, but he allowed the policy to lapse before the raid in question. His belated claim was rejected on the principle adopted by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action in cases of failure to insure. The Govern- 2505W ment scheme providing for free insurance against damage by air raid bombardment on property below the value of £ 500 did not come into force until 1st September, 1917.