§ Mr. GROVESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will inquire into the claim made to the Reparations Claims Department by Mr. James Webber, late engineer, s.s. "Copenhagen," on 6th March, 1923, for compensation in respect to the fact he is suffering following the effects of serving upon a merchant ship which was torpedoed on 5th March, 1917: and, as this man has an opportunity of a situation abroad, will he expedite consideration of the compensation claim?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe claims falls into the category of belated claims with regard to which it is not possible to make any definite statement pending the presentation of the Second Report of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Prime Minister whether in the settlement of all 72W outstanding claims he will consider granting compensation to those who indirectly suffered great loss from enemy action in the late war by means of bombardments and air raids?
Mr. GRAHAMAs the hon. Member is aware, grants are being made on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action in respect of damage within Annex I to Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles. I can hold out no hope that the Government will be prepared to ask Parliament to vote additional funds for the compensation of indirect damage excluded by the Treaty of Peace.