Mr. BASILPETOasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of compensation already paid to British seamen, interned prior to the outbreak of war, through the Enemy Debts Department; what proportion of the seamen's claims dealt with this represents; the amount of compensation paid to seamen and their dependants under the awards of Lord Sumner's Committee; and what proportion of the seamen's claims dealt with this represents?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI have been asked to reply. Under the recent Agreement concluded with the German Government, 322 claims, lodged in respect of pre-War internment, by British seamen with the Clearing Office, under Clause 4 of the Annex to Section IV of Part X of the Treaty of Versailles, have been settled to date, the total amount paid being £113,665 6s. 4d. Eighty-seven claims have 705W been rejected and 512 claims are still under consideration. As regards the second part of the question, the amount of compensation paid to seamen and their dependants under the awards of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action could not be separated from the amounts paid to other claimants without considerable labour and expense.
Mr. SANDEMAN ALLENasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the statement, which was authorised by his Government, of Herr Wissell's, the German seamen's delegate to the International Labour Conference, held at Genoa in June and July, 1920, to the effect that his Government undertook to make good all damage which the conduct of the War at sea by the Germans caused to Allied and associated Powers and their nationals; whether he is aware that it was only after receiving this engagement that the British seamen's dele-gates consented to meet them; and what, if any, action has been taken by His Majesty's Government to see that it is carried out?
§ Mr. McNEILLMy attention has been called to the statement referred to. The undertaking of the German Government, to which the statement alludes, is presumably that contained in the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty of Versailles. The execution of these Clauses is now governed by the experts' plan and the London Agreement of August, 1924.
Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake that the whole of the undistributed balance of £443,394 allocated by the Government for the benefit of those who sustained damage by enemy action will be eventually distributed amongst the claimants, and that no part of this sum reverts to the Treasury?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe payments recommended by the Royal Commission on Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action and the awards to belated claimants have been, or will be, paid out of the sums voted by Parliament for that purpose. Any amounts by which the amounts actually required in any financial year are less than the amounts provided in706W the Estimates have to be surrendered to the Exchequer, as in the case of all other moneys voted by Parliament.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £5,300,000 voted by the House has been paid to claimants for damage by enemy action under the awards of Lord Summer's Committee; and what is going to be done with the balance?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to the first part of the question is £4,860,229 5s. 8d. In reply to the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 1st December and earlier this afternoon.
§ Mr. BASIL PETOasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £5,300,000 voted by the House is a sum on account of damage done by enemy action to civilians during the War or whether it is intended as a final satisfaction of their claims?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs has been repeatedly stated, the amounts already allocated from the Exchequer for these claims must be regarded as final.