§ 53. Mr. Royleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to make a statement on, or give any date by which value payments will be made for, business and property destroyed by enemy action; and is it his intention to adhere to 1939 values.
§ Mr. DaltonI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Penrith and Cockermouth (Lieut.-Colonel Dower) on 22nd November, and, as regards the last part of the Question, to Section II of the War Damage Act, 1943.
§ 54. Mr. Boothbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to make payment in settlement of claims for loss of chattels caused by enemy action.
§ Mr. DaltonThis date cannot yet be fixed. It will depend not only on financial considerations but on the availability of supplies, particularly of furniture and clothing.
§ Mr. BoothbyWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that considerable hardship is being caused by the delay?
§ Mr. DaltonI think more hardship might be caused if we took precipitate action in the matter while supplies were not ready to meet the claims coming forward.
§ 64. Mr. Quintin Hoggasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the £200 which is owed by the War Damage Commission to Sapper Frank Edwards, discharged from the Army with a 30 percent. disability pension, has not been paid, with the result that Sapper Edwards is now subsisting on charity.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallOn the information given it is not possible to identify the case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. I have, however, written to him asking for further details and if he will supply them, I will have inquiries made.
§ Mr. HoggIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the man's name and address were given in my letter, and is he also aware that correspondence between the man and the War Damage Commission has been proceeding for some months?
§ Mr. HallThat may be, but the letter we have—I have seen the letter—does not give the address of the property in question, and that being so, we could not do anything.