Lieutenant-Colonel MALONEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the Treasury Committee to pay compensation to the dependants of Mr. G. A. Home, who was killed by the explosion of a dud anti-aircraft shell in his house at Leytonstone on 7th March, 1918; whether it is the intention of the Government to repudiate all liability for such events; whether the decision of the Treasury Committee was based on a misapprehension of the financial position of Mr. Home; whether, in view of the refusal of the Government to pay compensation, Mrs. Home and her family are living in very straitened circumstances; and whether he can see his way to institute an inquiry into the matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe decision to pay no compensation in this case was not based on the circumstances in which the late Mr. 2739W Home met his death, but was arrived at in consideration of the extent to which the widow is otherwise provided [ill]tor. I do not think there has been any misapprehension as to the financial position of Mr. Home, which was fully explained in an application from Mrs. Home to the Treasury in November last, and in the circumstances I fear no useful purpose would be served by a further inquiry.