asked the Minister for Defence if he is in a position to make a statement as to the number and total amount of Army accounts unpaid for 1921 and 1922 in connection with (1) claims for motor hire incurred by officers and men under his command, (2) claims for commandeered motors and damage to same while in possession of Army authorities, (3) goods supplied to Barracks by traders on authority of local officers, and if he can state whether all such outstanding claims will be disposed of before the 31st March, 1924.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARMY ACCOUNTS.
As regards 1921 claims, such claims cannot be met out of Army funds. Moreover, no decision has yet been arrived at as to the extent, if any, to which such claims could be admitted against any public funds. In these circumstances, there would be no advantage in giving details of claims of this kind.
As regards claims against the Army accruing from the early part of 1922, the numbers and total amounts of such claims at the moment under the classes specified are, approximately, as follows:—
|
Number. |
Amount. |
||||
|
Motor Hirage |
1,205 |
£25,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Comd. Motors, Bicycles, Boats, etc. |
2,050 |
170,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Billeting and Supplies |
15,389 |
50,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
18,644 |
£245,000 |
0 |
0 |
The Deputy is already familiar with the difficulties, from the public accounts point of view, of dealing with many of these claims, but arrangements have now been made which make it possible for me to state:
(1) That motor hirage claims will practically be cleared off by the 31st March next;
(2) That a large number of commandeered motor vehicles claims, although presenting abnormal difficulties in settlement, will be dealt with by the end of this financial year; and
(3) That in the case of goods supplied to the Army by traders, every such arrear account in which the bona fides of the claim can be definitely determined, will also be settled by 31st March next.