§ 51. Mr. Marplesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now authorise payments to be made to persons over 65 years of age in respect of their war-damage claims for private chattels.
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir, not as an automatic rule, but my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is always prepared to give special consideration to hardship claims from elderly persons.
§ Mr. MarplesDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that all the arguments he used when agreeing to pay postwar credits to elderly people apply with equal force to elderly people as far as war damage chattels are concerned, and will he not, with the President of the Board of Trade, take some action to see that people get some benefit from their claims while they are still alive?
§ Mr. DaltonI gave the reasons in reply to an earlier question why the two cases 1870 are different and I will not repeat them now, but the cases are not on all fours. We are anxious to make these payments as soon as the general situation permits, but we must keep a watch against making too many payments in a short time.
§ Mr. W. FletcherWill the Chancellor of the Exchequer bear it mind that a forensic triumph is no solution to the people without tables and chairs?
§ 58. Mr. Wadsworthasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now completed his consideration of the day to be appointed for the payment of claims under the War Damage Acts; and if he will now indicate when value payments will be made to those who insured against war damage and who have claims against the War Damage Fund.
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir, not yet.