HC Deb 31 July 1941 vol 373 c1517
25. Mr. Glenvil Hall

asked the Home Secretary whether he will indicate what liability has been put upon a local authority when goods from bombed premises, stored by it, are stolen?

Mr. H. Morrison

Local authorities are expected to take all reasonable care of chattels which they remove from bombed premises and store on the owner's behalf. No specific liability has been put upon them to do more than this.

Mr. Hall

Will my right hon. Friend remember that goods are stolen, in spite of the care taken by local authorities, and that many of the people who own these goods are quite poor? Cannot something be done to close this gap?

Mr. Morrison

To give an unrestrained undertaking about compensation would be opening up for ourselves and the local authorities a great deal of trouble, and I do not think I ought to do that. Local authorities do their best to take care of people's goods, and I think they deserve a vote of thanks for what they are doing.