§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the progress made since her Department's public statement on 3 April, with the review which she is conducting on compensation for people whose assets were seized under the policy adopted during the Second World War towards enemy property. [44710]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 8 June 1998]: On 30 April 1998, Official Report, column 242, I announced the publication on the Internet, of about 25,000 records of those residents of Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Japan and Romania whose property was confiscated under the Trading With the Enemy legislation. A further 5,000 records for other countries will be published, also on the Internet, as soon as possible.
My statement on 3 April indicated that the Government would set up a claims procedure and that a suitable independent third party would be asked to advise on the form of the scheme the Government should adopt. I hope to be able to make an announcement about the appointment of such an individual shortly. In the meantime, my officials continue to register potential claimants' interest in the scheme.