HC Deb 03 August 1916 vol 85 cc471-2
30. Mr. BOYTON

asked the Minister of Munitions if his attention has been called to a practice which, during the last few months, has become common, namely, the service by numerous lessors of property in London of notices of dilapidations and wants of repair, accompanied by claims for damages and costs, and threats to reenter upon the property, compliance with which would entail hardships upon lessees during war time; and whether he will take steps to prevent the labour, money, and material necessary to comply with such notices being used at a time when they could be much better employed?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT (Dr. Addison)

The permission of the Ministry of Munitions has to be obtained for the execution of work on repairs or alterations to buildings so far as these involve the use of constructional steel or cost more than a sum of £500. Numerous applications of this nature are being received, and are carefully considered from the point of view of the labour and materials that would be required for the purpose before a licence to do the work is granted. As at present advised, I am not prepared to extend the scope of the Order beyond its present limits.

31. Major HUNT

asked the Minister of Munitions, in view of the notice given by him forbidding any building without a licence, whether he can say when a licence was given for the building of a villa, for sale on easy terms, at Seaview, in the Isle of Wight?

Dr. ADDISON

No licence has been given for the building of a villa at Sea-view, Isle of Wight. An application has been received for a licence to continue the building of a house at Seaview, which was started before the 20th July, the date on which the Regulation took effect. Inquiry is now being made into the circumstances attendant upon the work in question, with a view to deciding whether or not a licence should be granted.

Major HUNT

Did not the Ministry of Munitions issue a warning on 30th March that buildings should not be started without consultation with the Ministry?

Dr. ADDISON

Yes, we issued a number of warnings and we only had recourse to licences because we found ourselves unable by the other way to get labour or material.

Mr. RENDALL

What is the limit of value prescribed?

Dr. ADDISON

Five hundred pounds.