§ Colonel PERKINSasked the Prime Minister whether he will afford the opportunity for a further discussion before the House rises on the position of belated claimants to the Reparation Claims Department; and whether he is aware that there are about 25,000 men in the mercantile marine who are awaiting a definite decision of the House of Commons with regard to their cases?
Mr. C LYNESAs no request was made for the further discussion of this question in Committee of Supply, I regret that the answer to the first part of the question is1908W in the negative; as regards the second part, there are, I understand, some 25,000 merchant seamen, fishermen and their dependants among those who have sent in belated claims. These are being dealt with in the manner indicated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull East (Mr. Lumley) on the 8th instant.