§ 47. Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position of an owner of property who has suffered damage to some of his property, through enemy action, to an amount many times in excess of the war damage contribution on the whole of his property, and thereby has a larger claim upon the State than the State has upon the owner; and what arrangements are made under these circumstances for the payment of the war damage contribution?
§ Sir K. WoodUnder Section 33 of the War Damage Act, 1941, collection of instalments of contribution on damaged property, in respect of which a "value payment" is likely to be made, is to be suspended, and the amount of the "value payment" if it is eventually made, will be reduced by so much of the instalments as has not been paid. In cases where a "cost of works" payment is appropriate in respect of a particular property, collection of the contribution due in respect of that property is to be deferred if and so long as the Inland Revenue Department is satisfied that the property is unfit by reason of the damage. Moreover, collectors of taxes have been instructed that, where sums have been expended by the owner in making good war damage and a claim for the amount expended has been, or is about to be, made to the War Damage Commission, he may, if he so requests, be allowed to defer payment for the time being, to the extent of the amount expended, of instalments due from him on his properties as a whole.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisWhile I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his Answer, may I say that it is no answer to my Question? I ask him again, What is the position of a property owner who has a larger claim against the State than the State has upon him?
§ Sir K. WoodI can only repeat the answer which I have given to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisIt is an unsatisfactory answer, and I give notice that I shall raise the subject on the Adjournment.
§ 51. Sir W. Davisonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether war damage insurance contributions are being held in a separate fund towards the cost of reinstatement and value payments for properties damaged or destroyed by enemy action?
§ Sir K. WoodThe War Damage Act, 1941, provides that contributions shall be paid into the Exchequer, and that payments by way of compensation shall be made out of moneys provided by Parliament.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs it not desirable that these payments should be kept together in one fund so that they will be available as a nucleus from which war damage payments can be promptly made?
§ Sir K. WoodThat matter was decided by Parliament.