§ 54. Mr. Mathewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many claims against the German State for compensation due to British subjects are still awaiting determination by the Supreme Restitution Court in Germany; and if he will make representations to the German Government that these long overdue cases should be disposed of without further delay.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyAs these claims are pursued privately, I regret that my right hon. and learned Friend has no exact information in this matter. I will, however, give the closest estimate it has been possible to make.
Her Majesty's Government are concerned about arrears of appeals before the second division of the Supreme Restitution Court, which deals with cases arising 103W in the former British Zone of Occupation. The Federal Government and Her Majesty's Government have each appointed to it one more judge than the minimum which the Charter of the Court specifies. The Federal Government have recently been urged to consider further remedial action.
Following is the estimate:
The Supreme Restitution Court classifies cases according to the claimants' places of residence, not nationality. Information obtained from it suggests that cases pending after the end of June in the names of residents of Britain and the Commonwealth in the three divisions of the court against defendants of all types total 149. Of these, 140 await consideration by the second division of the court. Forty-three of these 140 cases are against the State. I cannot say how many of the other nine cases before the other two divisions are against the State.