HC Deb 21 January 1941 vol 368 c77W
Mr. Rostron Duckworth

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the importance of the War Damage Bill to the community as a whole the Treasury will be prepared, on application, to give advice to organisations interested as to the exact significance and meaning of various proposals contained in the Measure, on which uncertainty exists?

Sir K. Wood

Yes, Sir; such advice has already been given in a number of cases and will always be available on request. It will, of course, be understood that a Government Department can only advise on the intentions underlying the Clauses of a Bill, and that the interpretation of a statute in individual cases is ultimately a matter for the courts.