§ 59. Colonel Nathanasked the Minister of Health what steps His Majesty's Government proposes to take in order to obviate any increase in the assessable value of premises to rates by reason of expenditure, whether capital or otherwise, on air-raid precautions?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hertford (Sir M. Sueter) on 7th December last, and by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Newcastle-on-Tyne (Mr. Denville) on 31st March, of which I am sending him copies.
§ Colonel NathanIs it really seriously the intention of His Majesty's Government that, the more public-spirited persons spend on providing air-raid shelters, the more they are to be penalised by increased assessments for rates, as a result of which their overhead charges will be increased, partly by increased liability for rates, and partly by increased assessments to Income Tax under Schedule A?
§ Mr. BernaysThe question is one for the local assessment committee, and my right hon. Friend has no power to interfere.
§ Colonel NathanWill not the Government introduce legislation to deal with this great and growing injustice?
§ Mr. BernaysNo, Sir; if these works of air-raid precautions increase the lettable value of property, obviously that must be taken into account in making the assessment.
§ Colonel NathanAre not the Government considering this matter as a commercial matter, instead of considering it as a matter of the protection of the population of this country? In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer I 29 have received, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the question on the Adjournment.
§ 62. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Home Secretary whether the Government will introduce legislation during the present Session to legalise expenditure by public utility companies on air-raid precautions?
§ Sir S. HoareI am examining the question whether public utility undertakings are prevented by the terms of existing legislation from proper expenditure on air-raid precautions work, and, if it should appear to be necessary, I will certainly introduce amending legislation. I hope this statement will enable such undertakings to proceed forthwith with appropriate plans, but it must, of course, not be assumed that all such measures will rank for assistance from the Exchequer, and in particular I would remind the House that in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 23rd December, 1937, I made it clear that there is no question of any grant in respect of expenditure on precautions of the kind that industry generally is expected to take.
§ Mr. MorrisonDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that public utility companies are unable to enter properly into the provision of air-raid precautions until they know what proportion of the expenditure the Government are going to bear; and is it the intention of the Government to endeavour to make an agreement with the whole of the public utility companies or to settle each case on its merits?
§ Sir S. HoareWe are engaged at the present moment in discussions with each of the great public utility services, and I hope that we shall be able to arrive at detailed decisions in the comparatively near future. In the meantime I hope that my answer will stimulate the public utility services to start at once with the provision of air-raid precautions.
§ Sir W. DavisonDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the main expense, especially in connection with water companies, is the putting in of new mains, which cannot be done in a hurry? Surely on points like that, the Government could give an indication whether they will bear the necessary expenses?
§ Sir S. HoareThat is just one of the questions that I want to see cleared up as soon as possible. In the meantime I hope that public utility services will start on their schemes.
§ Colonel NathanHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the necessity or desirability of an Indemnity Bill, in the event of its being found that some of these public utilities are not, under present legislation, authorised to spend money on these precautions?
§ Sir S. HoareThe hon. and gallant Member will see from my answer that I have definitely said that, if an indemnity Clause is necessary, I will include it in any legislation that I have to introduce on the subject.