§ Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the tenants of houses rendered uninhabitable by enemy action are responsible for the safe custody of the contents of their gas and electricity meters; whether, in the event of the contents of such meters being stolen 1718W the company should claim repayment of such money and the cost of the repair of the meter; and whether the tenants are entitled to claim compensation for this loss on form V.O.W.I in addition to the preliminary payments of compensation in respect of furniture, clothing, etc.?
§ Captain WaterhouseThe question of responsibility for the safe custody of the contents of a meter and for the repair of the meter depends normally on the contract between the public utility undertaker and the consumer. How far the terms of the contract would apply in the circumstances mentioned is a question which needs careful consideration and, as I indicated on 9th April in reply to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. Wilson), my right hon. Friend is consulting the other Ministers concerned. Loss due to looting is not covered under the War Damage Act.