§ Commander Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for War why the claim, details of which have been sent to him, for compensation on Tennyson Farm, Gibraltar Point, Skegness, which was de-requisitioned on 25th April, 1946, has not yet been settled; and whether he is aware that a serious loss of agricultural production has been caused by this delay of two years.
§ Mr. ShinwellMy Department is not responsible for the delay in settling this claim. The original claim for compensation was received on 17th August, 1946. The claim was submitted on behalf of the tenant and it was not clear that the owner had given the tenant authority to receive the compensation. The tenant's agents were asked for the necessary authority on 8th November, 1946. Despite reminders the Department heard nothing definite until 8th October, 1947, when the owner authorised the submission (by another firm of agents) of a joint claim on behalf of himself and the tenant and put in a revised claim four times the amount of the original one which was further increased by a revised claim on 22nd January, 1948. There has been some discussion since with the agents on the basis of the prices in the claim and a meeting is to be arranged shortly at which it is hoped this will be settled.