Colonel MILD MAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the Government Grant of £6,000 in compensation for the destruction of the village of Hallsands, South Devon, he can take into consideration its present inadequacy, in view of the cost of labour and building materials, to provide the necessary housing accommodation for the. fishermen in place of that destroyed; and whether he will be willing to publish the Report as to the amount of compensation rightly due made in October, 1917, by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, who was officially appointed by the Board to investigate and to take evidence on the spot?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANBefore deciding the amount of the Grant recently made to the inhabitants of Hallsands the Government gave careful consideration to all the circumstances of the case, including the increase in the cost of building, and the sum of £6,000 was accepted by the Devon Sea Fisheries District Committee on behalf of the villagers in full settlement of all claims. I am unable to hold out any hope of a further payment being made by the Government in this case. The Report by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice of the Inquiry held by him at Hallsands in September, 1917, was only intended for the information of the Government, and I am not prepared to publish it.