For the purpose of enabling a claim for compensation to be assessed, the claimant shall deliver to the local authority with the claim a statement containing such particulars as may be prescribed.

The said statement shall be accompanied by a statutory declaration that it is a true statement to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the claimant.

The authority shall forthwith take the claim into consideration and assess the just amount of compensation, if any, and shall forthwith inform the claimant of their decision.

If a local authority fail to inform any claimant of their decision on his claim within six months after it has been delivered to them, the Minister may, on application made to him by the claimant, direct the authority to do so within such time, not being less than one month, as may be specified in the direction.

A claimant, if so required by any member of the local authority by notice sent through the clerk of the authority, shall attend at a meeting of the authority, or of any committee appointed by the authority for the purpose, and answer on oath, which any justice of the peace present may administer, all questions asked by any member of the authority or committee touching the matters set forth in his claim and in the said statement, and shall further produce all books, papers and documents in his possession or under his control relating to the claim.