§ Captain THORPEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the serious delay in dealing with cases by the Royal Commission for Awards to Inventors; whether certain individuals who believe their claims to be well founded are penniless; whether it is the fact that the Commission only sits on one day in the week; and whether arrangements could be made for more frequent sittings?
Mr. YOUNGI would refer my hon and gallant Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 2nd ultimo. These claims usually involve questions of great difficulty and complexity and require lengthy investigation. I am satisfied that it is impracticable for the Commission to sit more frequently in view of the preparatory work to be done by the Departments concerned and the other claims upon the time of the members of the Commission. If the hon. Member will communicate with me or with the Secretary to the Commission as to any particular case which he has in mind, an endeavour will be made to expedite the hearing, if this can be done without unfairness to other claimants.