§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the money compensation offered to owners of property destroyed by enemy action is calculated, in view of the fall in the purchasing power of money.
§ Mr. DaltonThe War Damage Act, 1943, prescribes that a value payment for war damage to land is to be equal to the sale value of the property, including the site, as a freehold before it was damaged, less its value, including the site, after the damage, calculated in both cases by reference to values prevailing at 31st March, 1939. The Act also provides in Section 11 for an increase in value2060W payments in certain contingencies. The hon. Member will appreciate that the great majority of damaged properties have been or will be the subject of cost of works payments, i.e., a payment of the reasonable cost of making good the damage when the work of making good is done.