§ 5 Sir Hugh O'Neillasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the compensation payable to fanners whose land is requisitioned for military purposes, is limited to the pre-war rental value; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to remove this limitation?
§ Sir K. WoodThe compensation payable under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, in respect of a requisitioned farm, includes the rent that would be paid by a tenant inoccupation of the land under a lease granted immediately before the requisition, no account being taken of any appreciation in values due to the emergency. No compensation is payable in respect of loss of profits, but increases in rental values since the war are payable unless they are due to the war. I should not be prepared to introduce legislation to provide that compensation shall take account of profits arising out of the war.