§ 5. Mr. Hydeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to extend the operation of Section 53 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, to Northern Ireland, so that the owner of property which has been affected by war damage may be entitled to a cost of works payment under the war damage scheme instead of a converted value payment, as at present, when the property is compulsorily acquired.
§ Mr. H. BrookeHer Majesty's Government are in consultation with the Government of Northern Ireland about this, and we are awaiting their reply.
§ Mr. HydeIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable anxiety in Northern Ireland on the part of owners of war-damaged property which is likely to be requisitioned in this way, and will he do his best to expedite the matter so as to bring the law in Northern Ireland on the subject of war damage into line with that in this country?
§ Mr. BrookeMy hon. Friend has been good enough to have a talk with me about this, and, if I may put it this way, the ball is at the moment in the Northern Ireland Government's court.