§ Major LANE-FOXasked the Attorney-General whether the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown was taken before the premises known as 4, Thurloe Place were recently commandeered by the Royal Air Force and in part handed over to the National Health Insurance 'Commissioners under an Order made under the Defence 2293W of the Realm Act; and whether there is any legal power for the National Health Insurance Commission to so commandeer and occupy premises against the wish of the owner?
§ Sir G. HEWARTNo, Sir, the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown was not taken. The premises mentioned were not, commandeered for the National Health Insurance Commission nor for the Royal Air Force. When the premises were no longer required for the purpose for which they2294W were originally taken—namely, for the Central Prisoners of War Committee—the occupation was handed over to the Royal Air Force, which, as it did not at that time require the whole of the premises, agreed, in order to economise accommodation, to allow the National Health Insurance Commission staff temporarily to occupy apart. I understand that the Royal Air Force now requires the whole of the premises. The National Health Insurance Commission has no legal power to commandeer premises.