§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that in the settlement of claims of Southern Irish loyalists Lord Dunedin recommended that the whole field of losses suffered by Irish loyalists should be considered, and that the Irish Grants Committee have been restricted to losses between 11th July, 1921, and 12th May, 1923; that the official appointed to contest applications submitted is also secretary of the Grants Committee, and is thus present at all private deliberations of the Committee; and can he say why Lord Dunedin's recommendation that the Committee should have the assistance of assessors with practical experience in valuation work has not been complied with?
§ Mr. AMERYIn reply to the first part of the question, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the terms of reference of the Committee presided over by Lord Dunedin limited the Committee's inquiry to consideration of the 1661W question of injury to person or property in Ireland since 11th July, 1921; and that limitation must be presumed to govern, and, I understand did in fact govern the whole of their recommendations. The date, 12th May, 1923, marks the end of what may be called the period of acute disturbance in the Irish Free State; but if my hon. and gallant Friend is aware of any injuries originating after that date of such a kind as would otherwise come within the terms of reference to the Irish Grants Committee, I shall be glad if he will send details to me. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the third part, the Committee, who have Lord Dunedin's Report before them, are, of course, fully aware that it is open to them to ask for the assistance of assessors if they so desire, but they must he the judges of their own needs, and I have not as yet received any such request from them. My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that one of the members of the Committee, Sir John Oakley, is a president surveyor and a past President of the Surveyors' Institution.