§ 25. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he expects to be able to close down the War Damage Commission; and when he expects the Commission to wind up its existing outstanding cases.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Henry Brooke)No date has been fixed for winding up the War Damage Commission. As my hon. Friend will realise, the completion of outstanding cases does not depend on the Commission, but on when the owners of war-damaged properties are able to carry out the works of reinstatement.
Legislation would be necessary to wind up the Commission, and in view of the number of cases where war damage has yet to be made good, the time is not ripe for this.
§ Mr. RidsdaleCan my right hon. Friend suggest any means by which appeals on outstanding cases can be speedily finalised, after preliminary hearing, other than by recourse to the courts, which is an extremely expensive form of appeal and one which many small individuals cannot afford?
§ Mr. BrookeI think that what my hon. Friend suggests would require legislation. I am not sure, but I will look into it. Of course, what is compelling the work of the War Damage Commission to continue is mainly that it cannot make cost-of-works payments until the work of repair has been carried out.