HC Deb 28 May 1946 vol 423 cc988-90
58. Mr. Medland

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the hardship to bombed-out persons by his failure to pay value payments under the War Damage Act of 1943; and when he proposes to fix a date for such payments in accordance with the statement in explanatory pamphlet, Form C.I.A.

Mr. Dalton

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 5th February, to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay).

Mr. Medland

Is not the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that many of these people ar2 reduced to dire poverty, and Eire awaiting some payment from him, in order to meet their normal debts?

Mr. Dalton

The answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Solihull was to the effect that the date of the payments under this scheme must depend, not only on financial considerations', but also on the availability of supplies, particularly of building labour and materials;, and it is very difficult to pick and choose between different sections of persons entitled to them. It is necessary to keep a firm hold on the total outflow, so as to check any danger of inflation.

Mr. Medland

Will the right hon. Gentleman not give consideration to cases of special hardship?

Mr. Dalton

To give much consideration to special cases leads to cumbersome and untidy administration. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] It certainly does, as any right hon. Gentleman sitting on the Front Bench opposite knows, and I do not propose, at present, to vary the statement which I have made.

Lieut.-Colonel Byers

Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer telling the House that the rights of individuals are to be sacrificed in the interests of tidiness?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir. What I am saying is that the present arrangements, which would not sacrifice the rights of anybody, must continue for the present unchanged.

Mr. De la Bère

It is scandalous.

61. Mr. David Grenfell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a cost-of-works payment for the loss of all property by war damage which has been totally destroyed, or has been so severely damaged as to require to be rebuilt from the foundations, and pay in- terest for the loss of rental value from the date of actual war damage until the property has been made fit for rental or for use by the occupier; and whether he will state the number of houses so destroyed and the total difference between estimates of cost-of-works and value payments in all claims for war damage up to date.

Mr. Dalton

I regret that I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's suggestions, which would greatly increase the amount and extend the field of compensation payable under the preesnt law. 225,000 houses were destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and 40,000 of these are entitled to cost-of-works payments. No close estimate is possible of the total difference between cost-of-works payments and value payments in respect of all claims for war damage.

Mr. Grenfell

Will not the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the numerous cases of hardship, and the general confusion existing, put forward a more generous statement and publish it in the interests of these people?

Mr. Dalton

This is a matter which we are constantly watching to see, when the moment arrives, if we can safely go further than now, having regard to the danger of inflation, which I must constantly emphasise in meeting these claims.