§ 55. Mr. Daggarasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that persons who have a mortgage with the 630 Woolwich Equitable Building Society and whose houses have either been rendered uninhabitable or who have had to vacate their houses because of bombing are now being requested by this company to pay the usual amount of the principal together with, in some instances, the interest at 4— per cent.; under what authority such requests are made; and will he take measures to protect these people who cannot possibly meet these demands?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative; in a case recently brought to my right hon. Friend's notice it appeared that this society was not insisting on immediate payments in the circumstances referred to in the Question. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) on 18th February, 1941, and in which it was stated that the relations of mortgagor and mortgagee are among the matters being considered in connection with proposals for further legislation to deal with the rights of those who have interests in damaged property.
§ Mr. DaggarDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman disagree with my statement that this society is making these demands upon people with whom they have a mortgage?
§ Captain CrookshankNo, Sir. The Question was whether I was aware of this, and my answer was "No." The only case brought to our notice was the other way round. If the hon. Member has any information on the matter, perhaps he will let me have it.