§ 26. Sir J. Mellorasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the position of those tenants who would be liable to rebuild in the event of their premises being destroyed by the armed forces of an enemy and who are unable to obtain insurance against this risk; and whether the Government proposes to take any steps to relieve them from this dilemma?
Mr. StanleyThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; this matter is under consideration.
27. Sir George Mitchesortasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the growing public demand for insurance against war risks, he is now prepared to make any further statement as to the policy of the Government on this matter?
§ 30. Mr. Hutchinsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that insurance offices, in renewing 14 fire and comprehensive policies upon dwelling houses, have now intimated that such policies from the first renewal date after 30th September, 1937, will be renewed: subject to an express condition exempting war risks, and that in some cases building societies are drawing the attention of their mortgagees to this condition; and whether, having regard to the uneasiness to which these circumstances are giving rise, he will make a statement?
Mr. StanleyIn regard to the facts mentioned by the hon. Member for Ilford (Mr. Hutchinson), I am informed that insurance offices generally speaking have never covered war risks in this country, and that the recent alteration in the wording of policy conditions has not effected any material change but is merely designed to make clear the actual position that there is no liability under the contracts in question for damage due to war. On the general question of war risks insurance, I would refer to the answers I gave on 2nd and 9th November to the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel).
§ Mr. ThorneDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that if the companies in question did insure, they would be quite safe?
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is very considerable pressure from people that there should be some method of insurance, and can he give an undertaking that the Government are likely to come to an early decision on the matter?
Mr. StanleyMy hon. Friend, I know, will remember the answers to which I referred, which indicated that the Government are considering the question more from the point of view of possible compensation in time of emergency rather than by way of insurance.