§ 29. Mr. Granvilleasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to compensate the owners of shops and small businesses when their livelihood has been lost owing to the fact that they have volunteered for the Fighting Forces and the assistants left in charge have been called up?
§ Mr. DaltonThe policy of His Majesty's Government is that no compensation can be paid from public funds, except in respect of loss or damage directly due to enemy action or to counter-action. As regards the calling-up of assistants left in charge of small businesses, this raises the question of hardship procedure under the National Service Acts, on which I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.
§ Mr. GranvilleThe right hon. Gentleman is, of course, aware that there were many cases of extreme hardship after the last war, and will he confer with the Service Departments to see whether something can be done in specific cases to prevent that happening after this war?
§ Mr. HannahHave the Government taken any responsibility for getting them back in their jobs after this war?
§ Mr. DaltonThat is a question of post-war policy which, I think, might be addressed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Paymaster-General.