Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the public dissatisfaction over the slowness of the War Damage Commission in deciding whether, in the case of damaged buildings, to make cost of works or value payments, and that no decisions have been yet reached in respect of many claims two to three years old; and whether he can expedite the activities of this body?
§ Sir K. WoodI appreciate that owners of damaged properties naturally wish to know as soon as possible what kind of payment they will receive. The War Damage (Amendment) Act, 1943, was designed to facilitate the Commission's work of deciding whether properties were or were not total lossess which generally determines whether a value payment or a cost of works payment is due. They proceeded urgently with a scheme for classifying all properties damaged up to the end of 1942. The size of the task required a pre-arranged plan. Individual properties cannot be taken out of turn except for some urgent reason. Accordingly the Commission do not make an immediate determination unless the owner proposes and is legally able to re-218W pair or re-develop his property at once. The Commission has made good progress and I cannot accept the suggestion that it has been slow in dealing with a vast task in addition to its primary duty of paying current claims for work done. But if my hon. Friend wishes to gives me particulars of any cases where owners urgently needed a speedy classification and there has been apparent delay in giving it I will have them looked at.