§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that at the time of the death of the late William Dick there was owing to Mr. Dick, who carried on business at 13, Hamilton Street, Greenock, under the firm name of Baine and Johnston, and acted as agents for a firm in Newfoundland, sums amounting to over £11,000 belonging to the said firm; that on 9th July, 1936, there was issued by the Anglo-Spanish Clearing Office a cheque for £5,042 19s. 9d. towards payment of those sums, which cheque was returned with a request that the cheque be made payable to Mr. Dick's executrix; that, though the cheque was accepted back, payment of the said sum has been refused to Mr. Dick's executrix; that serious hardship is being caused thereby to the said Newfoundland firm; and what steps he proposes to take to have this matter settled forthwith?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleOwing to the death of Mr. Dick, it became necessary to defer payment until probate had been obtained by his executrix. But, before probate was obtained the Clearing Office had, in view of the civil war in Spain, temporarily suspended payments to persons in the United Kingdom. By the Clearing Office (Spain) Amendment No. 2 Order, 1936, the whole of the funds at the disposal of the Anglo-Spanish Clearing Office were directed to be transferred to a reserve account at the Bank of England until a further Order should be made providing for the distribution of these funds, and at present the Clearing Office has no power to make the payment. I am satisfied that the delay in payment has been unavoidable in the circumstances. The payment is, however, only temporarily suspended and will be effected when the further Treasury Order referred to above has been made.