HC Deb 22 January 1948 vol 446 cc379-80
52. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that owing to insistence on war damaged shop fronts being replaced or restored exactly as they were originally instead of according to a new design the expense is frequently more than it would have been; and whether greater latitude will be allowed particularly when this involves financial economy.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

My hon. Friend has been misinformed. The owner of a war-damaged property which is not a total loss can make good the damage by works which include reasonable alterations or additions, and is entitled to claim from the War Damage Commission the reasonable cost of the work, up to the amount which it would have cost to reinstate the property as it was before the damage occurred.