HC Deb 08 July 1941 vol 373 c18
35. Mr. Messer

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many people who have sustained loss and damage to goods by enemy action are dissatisfied with the assessment of the district valuer; and what course is open to people who decline to accept the valuation of the district valuer?

Sir A. Duncan

District valuers are instructed to consider a claimant's objections to any proposed assessment as sympathetically as possible, and to make every endeavour to reach a settlement. I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction with the assessment of claims by these valuers. Where a claimant does not accept the district valuer's valuation, the assessment is not final, and the district valuer refers the case to higher departmental authority, who considers what further steps can be taken to ensure a final and fair assessment.

Mr. Messer

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider cases which I will present to him, with special reference to the one in which the district valuer simply refused to do anything but stand by the valuation?

Sir A. Duncan

I shall be very happy indeed to receive details of particular cases, and I will examine them.