§ 41. Captain W. T. Shawasked the Secretary of State for War whether any discretion is used in the impressment of lorries for Army service so as to avoid the ruin of small businesses; whether, in the event of a one-man carrier and coal merchant business having to be abandoned owing to impressment of the lorry, any compensation is paid; and, in particular, whether he can make any statement about the case of Francis Winton, Granco, Dunning, Perthshire, whose only lorry was impressed on 7th September, but was released on explanation that it was the sole means of livelihood of the owner and was subsequently impressed again on 17th September, with the result that the business of the owner has been ruined?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaIn the initial pressure, it was not always possible to avoid the impressment of single vehicles owned by small firms or individuals, but such vehicles will not now be taken. Payment in all cases is on the basis of assessed value and any necessary delivery expenses. There is no record of the impressment of Mr. Winton's vehicle on 7th September, and the officer who impressed it on 18th September has no recollection of any protest. Mr. Winton obtained a substitute vehicle on the same day, and it is not clear, therefore, how the termination of Mr. Winton's business can have been due to the impressment of his vehicle.