HC Deb 13 March 1923 vol 161 cc1304-5W
Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the claims of British nationals against the Russian Government lodged with the Russian Claims Department have been in any way checked or investigated by the Department to ascertain whether they are just and reasonable, or whether all such claims are registered without question by the Department?

Viscount WOLMER

Claims are examined for the pin of ascertaining (a) whether the claimant is entitled to the status of a British subject, and (b) whether the claim, as stated, shows a primâ facie ground of claim against the Russian Government. Such further inquiries are made as appear to be necessary either for the purpose of rendering the claim intelligible or for the purpose of ascertaining the proper head under which it should be classified, but the Depart-meet does not undertake to determine whether the amount of the claim has been correctly estimated.