§ Mr. KIDDasked the Secretary for Scotland whether last year a motor lorry driven by a Government servant ran into a group of men near Blackburn, West Lothian, on 1st July, 1921, and seriously injured six men, fracturing the limbs of three of them; that a claim for compensation was intimated on 23rd July, 1921, to the Scottish Command and to the Secretary for Scotland on 27th December, 1921; that, although it has not been contended that the claims are unjustified, no response to the claim has been made; and that compensation for a similar, but fatal, accident which occurred in Bathgate on 23rd April, 1921, was paid on 12th November, 1921; and why the claims which occasion this question have not been settled?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have been asked to answer this question. The lorry was on hire from a civilian firm on the understanding that the firm would be responsible for all risks. At the same time, the accident arose from circumstances over which the firm's servant had not complete control, and provided that the firm will agree to share the responsibility with the War Department, the claims of the six injured men will be met830W on such terms as I am advised are fair and reasonable.