§ Mr. Liddallasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardship caused to owners of requisitioned properties, now released, by the delay in agreeing the amount of compensation to be paid and in refusing payments on account notwithstanding the expenditure owners are having to incur; and whether he will issue directions to secure early agreement and settlement of payments on account to meet the outlays necessarily made by owners.
§ Sir J. GriggI am not aware of any general delay. The War Department have settled 91 per cent. of claims in respect of dilapidations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In Lincolnshire the percentage is 93 per cent. Instructions have long since been issued that payments on account can be made when appropriate, provided that the claimant's entitlement is established.