§ Sir R. Taskerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will investigate a claim lodged with the Custodian of Enemy Property on 28th December by Mr. Robert O. Wiener, a British-born subject, and negatived by that department as they had no orders to pay that claim in particular or claims in general; and whether, as hardship and bankruptcy have been caused to Mr. Wiener and losses to his British creditors, he will now direct compensation to be paid out of one of the German funds available in London or direct the Custodian of Enemy Property to make an advance or release in sterling against this unsecured claim in accordance with the Trading with the Enemy (Custodian) Order, 1939, and the Statutory Rules and Orders, 1939, No. 1198, paragraph 3?
§ Sir J. SimonI have been furnished with copies of Mr. Wiener's claim and of the reply sent to him on behalf of the Custodian of Enemy Property. As regards the second part of the question, I would point out that German assets have, under Section 7 (1) of the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939, been paid to the Custodian of Enemy Property for the purpose of "preserving enemy property in contemplation of arrangements to be made at the conclusion of peace."