§ 51. Sir J. Mellorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will authorise the spending Departments, when requisitioning premises, to pay to the occupier the amount of any loss occasioned by a sale of his stock, for the purpose of giving vacant possession in compliance with an Order, unless the Department has previously offered to the occupier suitable storage space on reasonable terms?
§ Sir K. WoodIt is the practice of Departments, under Section 2 (1) (d) of the Compensation (Defence) Act, to pay the expenses of removal and of storage, and this should serve in most cases to obviate the risk of loss of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers. If immediate sale were necessary the expenses of the sale could be claimed under the same Section as an alternative to those of storage.
§ Sir J. MellorMay I point out to my right hon. Friend that my Question refers to loss on a sale and not to expenses in connection with a sale? I asked him whether the Department could be authorised to pay the loss on a sale—that is to say, the difference between the amount realised and the valuation.
§ Sir K. WoodNo, Sir. I should not be able to do that.
§ Mr. ShinwellIf someone loses as a result of requisitioning and because of a forced sale of stocks, is there any reason why the Government should not come to that person's assistance?
§ Sir K. WoodThere are many losses of that kind which have arisen as a result of the war which people, unfortunately, have to pay.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhy not make an attempt to establish equity? Why should some have to bear these losses and others not?
§ Sir K. WoodThat, unfortunately, is the position.
§ Sir J. MellorHas my right hon. Friend considered the comments on hardships caused in these cases which are contained in the report of Mr. John Morris, published recently in a White Paper? Is my right hon. Friend going to do anything to implement the recommendations of Mr. John Morris?
§ Sir K. WoodI have already given a reply to the House and stated that I propose to implement the recommendations.
§ Sir A. SouthbyHas my right hon. Friend considered the many questions of hardship which have been brought to his notice by his right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal?
§ Sir K. WoodNo cases of hardship have been brought to my notice by my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir A. SouthbyThen will my right hon. Friend make inquiries from the Lord Privy Seal?
§ Sir K. WoodI am sorry that I did my right hon. Friend an injustice. He brought a number of cases to my notice which I referred to Mr. Morris and which he has dealt with.
§ Sir A. SouthbyIs my right hon. Friend aware that some of these cases have not yet been dealt with?
§ Sir K. WoodAs I have said, I am going to adopt the recommendations of Mr. Morris.
§ 75. Mr. G. Macdonaldasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is satisfied that the buildings and hotels allocated to the staffs of the various Ministries, in different parts of the country, are fully utilised; and whether a number of these buildings would be suitable for hospital accommodation in case of an emergency?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings (Mr. Hicks)Yes, Sir. We endeavour to make the maximum use of the buildings in our charge. The total number of premises held by the Ministry for the staffs of other Departments exceeds 20,000, and the hon. Member will appreciate that, owing to new services and the expansion of staffs, together with the need for reserve accommodation, it is inevitable that a certain number of premises must always be either temporarily vacant or in process of re-allocation. In regard to the second part of the Question, hospital accommodation for emergency needs is continually under review by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and a number of buildings have been earmarked for this purpose.
§ Mr. MacdonaldIs my hon. Friend aware that in a coastal town in the North-West it is thought that the accommodation taken over is far too large for the needs, and is he also aware that in that town the Secretariat of the Air Force are doing their work in basements?