§ Mr. RAWSONasked the President of the Board of Trade the last occasion on which property in this country sustained damage in consequence of an air raid; how long the Royal Commission on Compensation has been sitting; and, in view of the hardship sustained by many owners of property many years ago, can he give an approximate date on which the Report of the Commission may be anticipated?
Mr. ALEXANDERAs to the first part of the question, the last occasion on which property in this country sustained damage in consequence of an air raid was on 19th May, 1918. As to the second part of the question, the first sitting of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action was on 17th August, 1921. As to the last part, the Second Report of the Commission is in draft, and is now under consideration by the Commission.
§ Mr. MURRAYasked the President of the Board of Track what steps are being taken to expedite the settlement of outstanding claims by seamen and others against the Reparations Claims Department; and whether anything can be done to secure immediate payment to men whose claims have been outstanding since 1918, many of whom are now unemployed and in poverty?
Mr. ALEXANDERAwards of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action have been paid in the case of almost all the claims by seamen and others in respect of loss of life, injury to health, maltreatment during internment and loss of personal effects at sea lodged with the Reparation Claims Department before the final dates fixed by the Royal Commission. Claims in respect of damage to property will form the subject. of a Second Report, which is in draft and under consideration by the Commission. On its publication, payment of the sums recommended will be made. Claims notified after the final dates fixed by the Commission fall into the category of be- 1051W lated claims and are at present being considered by the Commission.
§ Sir J. MARRIOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. J. W. Wiggins, of 25, Perscholme Green, York, who was, in May 1916, severely injured by a bomb dropped in York by enemy aircraft; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the last part, the first intimation to the Reparation Claims Department of a claim by Mr. J. W. Wiggins was contained in his letter of 6th September, 1923, and having regard to paragraph 17 of the First Report of the Royal Commission, the claim falls into the category of belated claims which are under consideration by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action.