§ 51. Mr. Hannahasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he realises the discontent caused by inequalities in the assessments for war damage, namely, a bungalow in Bilston cost £350, rate £9, Schedule A £18, is asked to pay £1 16s.; another in Wednesbury cost £625, rate £14, Schedule A £21, with allowance of 1055 £5 5s. for repairs, is assessed at £1 11s. 6d.; and will he consider a more equitable arrangement?
§ Captain CrookshankI would remind my hon. Friend that, although it was recognised that there may be anomalies in individual cases between the Schedule A values of different properties, it was considered essential in the circumstances of the present time to base the contribution on figures which are readily available. He will recall that in moving the Second Reading of the Bill my right hon. Friend explained that the Schedule A basis has been adopted on the ground that it provides, by and large, a substantial and adequate contribution from property owners as a whole towards the payments to be made in respect of war damage.