§ 54. Mr. C. S. Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the printed circular issued by the Central Land Board entitled, "Advice on buying and selling a site for building a house"; and whether he will explain the meaning of the sentence in paragraph three which states, that the amount will in any case be related to the circumstances of the owner of the land on 1st July, 1948.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe payments from the £300 million are to be made in respect of interests in land, whether freehold or leasehold, existing on 1st July, 1948, which have suffered depreciation due to the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947. The Act provides that the Treasury scheme, which will distribute the payments, may have regard to the development value of such interests or to other circumstances affecting those interests. In either case the interest referred to is that of the person owning on 1st July, 1948. The treatment of the claim and the amount of the payment would be unaffected by any assignment to some other person of the right to receive the payment.
§ Mr. TaylorCan I have an assurance from the right hon. and learned Gentleman that the word "circumstances" in this case does not mean the financial circumstances of the owner?
§ Sir S. CrippsIt means the circumstances which rule on the date I have given, 1st July, 1948, and not the circumstances which might rule at some future date.
§ Mr. TaylorBut does it refer to the financial circumstances?
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, it refers to the factual circumstances.