§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War the policy adopted in connection with claims for compensation made by infants under 15 years of age who suffer damage through picking up grenades, etc.; and whether he will pronounce a policy whereby children of that age will not be met with any attempted defence of contributory negligence but that ex-gratia payments will be made where the overriding negligence is that of military personnel.
Sir J. GriģģI outlined the policy adopted by the War Department in dealing with these cases in a reply I gave my hon. Friend on 25th May last. All these claims are most carefully scrutinised, and no claim is repudiated unless the facts show that there has been serious negligence on the part of the injured persons. In particular, the defence of contributory negligence is not raised unless the facts in the individual case fully justify such a course.