asked the Prime Minister whether the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action fixed any date as a time limit for the reception of belated claims for compensation; if so, will he state what the date was; and whether he will state the total numbers of claims, both successful and unsuccessful, from persons resident in East Kent, considered by the Royal Commission?

I have been asked to reply. The Royal Commission fixed the 15th February, 1922, as the latest date for receiving claims, and this was extended to 30th December, 1922, in respect of certain special claims. No special date was fixed for belated claims. As regards the third part of the question, I would refer to the answer I gave the hon. Member on Monday.

As no date was fixed for belated claims, do the Government intend to fix a date?

The Government have not fixed a date for them to be received, but that will be considered now.

Have claims been put in by men of the mercantile marine who have no proof that their claims have been received, and are they now being treated as belated claims and will they be considered also?

As far as I know, all claims received by the Department have been duly acknowledged. [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] That is my information. If that is not so, I should like to have notice.

Have any belated claims sent in by seamen been passed by the Commission, and, if so, will they be paid soon?

I understand a small number of special cases have been dealt with under the heading of belated claims. So far as I know, payment will be made at an early date.

Will belated claims be considered as assessed?

The matter is dealt with in the General Report of the Commission. The Government have the matter under immediate consideration, and a statement will be made at an early date.