HC Deb 24 June 1941 vol 372 cc937-9
18. Sir Herbert Williams

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of claims in respect of which payments have been made under the chattels scheme of the War Damage Act; and the aggregate sum so far paid?

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lyttelton)

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

Sir H. Williams

Has anybody yet had an ordinary payment under the chattels scheme?

Mr. Lyttelton

I cannot say offhand what payments have been made. I should like to have notice of that Question.

Sir H. Williams

Surely my right hon. Friend knows whether his scheme is working?

Mr. Lyttelton

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman an answer now.

Sir H. Williams

Am I to gather that no human being has yet had a copper out of this scheme?

25. Sir Reginald Blair

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the amount of premiums received from the scheme of personal chattels, war damage, up to 15th June, 1941; and whether any steps are being taken to speed up acknowledgments?

Mr. Lyttelton

I cannot at present state separately the amount received in premiums under the private chattels scheme. The aggregate amount received both under that scheme and under the business scheme up to 15th June was £12,847,500. As regards the second part of the Question, the application is usually acknowledged by the issue of a combined form of receipt and policy. I realise that owing to printing difficulties there has in some cases been delay in getting these out, but the issue of the forms is now proceeding as rapidly as the available staff of the Board's agents permits In the meantime all persons whose premiums have been received are held covered.

Sir R. Blair

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who is responsible? Is it the Board of Trade?

Mr. Lyttelton

The insurance companies act as our agent, but it is our responsibility.

Mr. Ammon

Is it not possible to state the amounts received? What is the difficulty in giving this information?

Mr. Lyttelton

I said I did not know.

Mr. Ammon

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say it was not in the public interest?

Mr. Buchanan

Where forms are not available, but where the agent of a society has accepted the payment of a premium, will the right hon. Gentleman see that in those cases payments cover the insurance?

Mr. Lyttelton

In that case the insurer is covered.

Mr. Ammon

What is the difficulty in stating the amount, and where is there a danger to national security in giving it?

Mr. Lyttelton

Firstly, it would be against the public interest, because it would show the amount of damage caused to chattels by enemy action, and the second matter, dealing with the total amount of the premiums received, is an entirely different subject.