§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention 54W has been called to the fact that civilian prisoners interned at Ruhleben have only received about two-fifths of the amount assessed by the British Government as reparations on their behalf; whether, since the last payment to such civilians, the British Government has received further, and what, sums from the German Government in respect of such prisoners; and whether any further payment will be made to them?
Mr. GRAHAMAs stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for the Eastern Division of Fife on the 5th May, the Government are unable to depart from the decision that the sums allocated to grants in respect of suffering and damage by enemy action cannot be increased; the cases referred to in the question are covered by this ruling, and accordingly the answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. The second part of the question rests upon a misapprehension, since reparation payments are debts between Governments and are not due to individuals or earmarked to particular items of damage suffered by individuals.