HC Deb 19 October 1950 vol 478 c2200
4. Mr. Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the total income received and the total payments made in respect of Part II of the War Damage Chattels Act, 1942.

Mr. H. Wilson

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Shepherd

Is it not a fact that a great number of people are now waiting for payments under this scheme? If there is a surplus, as I believe there is, why should these people continue to wait for payments due to them?

Mr. Wilson

I have answered questions about the delay of payments under this scheme on a number of occasions.

Following is the answer:

WAR DAMAGE ACT, 1943 (PART II)
Business and Private Chattels Schemes
Statement of total receipts and payments made to 30th September, 1950
Business Scheme Private Chattels Scheme Total
£m. £m. £m.
Receipts
Premiums … 76.84 15.83 92.67
(a) Salvage … 0.13 0.02 0.15
76.97 15.85 92.82
Payments
£m. £m. £m.
(b)(c) Claims … 51.09 116.76 167.85
Interest … 3.05 4.59 7.64
54.14 121.35 175.49
(a) These receipts do not include salvage requisitioned and sold by other Government Departments, which would have been accounted for direct by those Departments.
(b) In addition to claims paid, amounts totalling £269,114 have been discharged by the Board of Trade by way of "set-off" against loans made to Business Scheme claimants by other Government Departments.
(c) Not including deferred payments to a total of £40.86 million and interest thereon.