§ Mr. Ralph Ethertonasked the President of the Board of Trade why the organisation of the War Damage Commission is such that it takes considerably more than a year to pay accounts of builders and others in respect of work on war damage reinstatement; whether he is aware that the delays of the Commission cause great financial strain to firms so penalised; and what reorganisation is contemplated?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have been asked to reply. I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that it takes the War Damage Commission a year or more to settle 221W claims for cost-of-works payments. In fact the average claim is settled within five or six weeks of its receipt. Individual claims, of course, may be outstanding for a longer period for a variety of reasons, and if my hon. Friend has any specific case or cases in mind where there appears to have been undue delay, and will give me particulars, I will be happy to make inquiries.