§ Mr. M. WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a Bill introduced in the Irish Free State Parliament, entitled an Act to amend and extend the enactment relating to compensation for criminal injuries; if he is aware that Part III of this Bill declares that the Free State Government is not responsible for injuries to the person which occurred after the 11th day of July, 1921, and on or before the 6th day of February, 1923, even in cases where compensation has already been decreed; whether the British Government is responsible for such injuries between those dates; and, if not, from whom can compensation be claimed?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORE:The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative and to the third part in the negative. The Free State Government has agreed that the cases of members of the Crown Forces killed or injured during the period in question in breach of the Truce shall be referred to Mr. Howell-Thomas and Mr. Dowdall, the two members of the Compensation (Ireland) Commission appointed by the British and Fine State Governments respectively; and 12 such cases have already been dealt with by them, the compensation awarded amounting to £11,500. As regards cases of persons not members of the Forces of the Crown, the Free State Government is about to appoint a Commission to recommend to the Minister of Finance what sums should in reason and fairness be paid in respect of injuries to which the Criminal Injuries Acts, as extended by the Act of 1919 and 1920, would have applied. The exact terms of reference were published in the Irish Press on the 8th instant.