§ 28. Mr. Molsonasked the Minister of Works whether he will discontinue using his powers under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, to obtain premises for Government Departments at less than the rent payable under free market conditions.
§ Mr. KeyAs the hon. Member knows, rental compensation for requisitioned premises is now payable at current market values, subject only to the maxima prescribed by the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act, 1948. I cannot give any general undertaking to refrain from requisitioning on the terms so recently approved by Parliament, but it is not, in fact, my practice to use my requisitioning powers where the public interest can reasonably be secured in other ways.