32. Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that it is the frequent practice of officials of his Department verbally to de-requisition houses without giving any notice to the owner; and whether he will consider giving at least one month's notice in the case of dwelling-house property and three months in the case of industrial, commercial and agricultural holdings?
Sir J. GriģģWhen it is thought that accommodation will no longer be needed as much notice as possible is given, usually in writing, of the intention to end the requisition. It is, however, impossible in war-time conditions to forecast precisely whether a particular property will or will not be needed in a month or in three months' time, and I regret therefore that my hon. Friend's suggestion cannot be adopted as a rigid rule.