HC Deb 17 December 1946 vol 431 cc1773-4
61. Mr. Norman Bower

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the long delays still being experienced by members of the public in obtaining acknowledgments and replies to their communications to the War Damage Commission and in getting individual cases dealt with; and if he will take steps to bring about an early improvement in these respects

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Intake of claims has doubled this year and more than 10,000 claims are now being received and paid each week. Despite this great volume of work, small claims are, normally, still paid in two or three weeks, and all claims on average in four to five weeks, of receipt. The Commission is always ready to look into any case where undue delay is alleged.

Mr. Bower

If I send the hon. Gentleman particulars of a very bad case I have received, in which great delay was experienced and several communications completely ignored, will he please look into it?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Yes, certainly, but it is not the normal practice of the Commission to answer letters of this type. The best answer to a claim is to send a cheque, and that is what is being done as soon as it is possible. I would add that the largest number of delays is caused by the fact that people will not fill in all the forms and returns with the details for which they are asked.