Lieut.-Colonel PINKHAMasked the Pensions Minister if he will state the reason for the delay by the Civil Liabilities Committee in dealing with applications from discharged and demobilised men for grants to enable them to set up in business; and if he is aware that these applications were dealt with fairly expeditiously when the moneys were paid out of the King's Fund, but since the transfer to the Civil Liabilities Committee on 26th March, 1919, the Willesden War Pensions Committee has forwarded thirty applications to the Civil Liabilities Committee, and only three awards have been notified to date?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to answer this question. One general reason why the Civil Liabilities Department has not been able to dispose of these cases move quickly is the large number of un-investigated, or only partially investigated, claims that were handed over to the Departmenten bloc from the King's Fund. I may say in this connection that no claims were actually transferred to the Civil Liabilities Department till some three weeks after the nominal date of transfer (26th March). I have not been able to verify the statement at the end of the question, but I will see what can be done to expedite a settlement of any cases that prove to have been unduly delayed. Meanwhile it would help me if the hon. and gallant Member will give me some details of the particular oases which he has in mind.