§ 24. Sir I. Alberyasked the President of the Board of Trade how furniture placed in storage, and furniture in houses in divided occupation, will be dealt with by regulations under the War Damage Bill?
§ Mr. LytteltonIn each of the cases referred to by my hon. Friend, the owner of the furniture will be entitled to insure it under the private chattels scheme. The precise allocation in these cases of the amounts of free compensation announced in his speech on 25th February by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is now being considered.
§ Sir Frank SandersonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable misapprehension among householders who have been under the necessity of placing their chattels in public warehouses and do not know whether or not they are covered by the Bill to the extent of £300? Could he make it clear that they are in fact covered free of insurance?
§ Mr. LytteltonI will ask the hon. Gentleman to put a Question on the Paper.
§ Sir F. SandersonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to this and he asked me to write to the President of the Board of Trade, and I have received no reply from him?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe hon. Gentleman will realise that the matter is one of some delicacy. It is now being examined.
§ Sir F. SandersonThe question is whether goods and chattels in a public warehouse are insured or not. That is, surely, not a difficult point.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe answer is "Yes," but I ask the hon. Gentleman to put a Question on the Paper, when he will get a full answer.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs it not the fact that under the War Commodities Insurance Act, as amended by the War Damage Bill, there is an obligation upon the storekeeper to insure such furniture as being goods in his possession for the purposes of his trade or business?