§ Mr. G. BALFOURasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on the 15th November, 1921, the chief valuer of the War Office directorate of lands informed the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company that it was proposed to surrender part of about nine acres of the company's land at Willesden which had been commandeered without compensation under the Defence of the Realm Act on the 26th August, 1915; that on the 29th November, 1921, at a personal interview, the chief valuer informed the general manager of the company that the Government were willing to surrender the whole site and reinstate the land, and that although the company's agents have since made repeated applications to the Department they are unable to ascertain at what date or on what terms the Government 1064W are prepared to surrender and reinstate the land; and whether, in view of the fact that under Section 2 (i) (ii) of The Indemnity Act, 1920, claims for compensation must be lodged with the War Compensation Court by the 31st August, 1922, he will instruct his Department to deal with the matter without further delay?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe surrender of the site has been delayed pending negotiations as to the possible sale to the company of a siding constructed on the land by the Government. The company having now decided not to purchase this siding, the site is being handed back to them, and they were asked on the 15th instant to supply details of the basis of their claim for compensation in lieu of reinstatement.