HC Deb 10 October 1946 vol 427 c361
63. Mr. Lipson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now authorise the payment of agreed war damage claims to persons of 65 years of age and over, in view of the fact that many of them are suffering financial hardship which payment would relieve.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

As my right hon. Friend indicated in reply to Questions on 30th April last, there are practical difficulties which make it impossible, he is afraid, to apply a special priority for old people in the discharge of payments under the War Damage Acts.

Mr. Lipson

Will the hon. Gentleman considei whether it would not be possible to make those payments in cases of proved hardship?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

The difficulty is to decide how far hardship can go before one recognises it. I would say, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, that he is giving a good deal of thought to this, and we are anxious at the earliest possible moment to do something to clear up these outstanding points.

Mr. Osborne

What are those practical difficulties, in view of the fact that I have extracted from one Department a payment of this kind?