§ 72. Mr. Teelingasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what claims are outstanding against the Admiralty for the occupation of Princes Hotel, Hove, during the war; to whom are they payable; what has already been paid; and where they are for damage which must be repaired to make the Princes Hotel habitable, will the fact that the hotel will not now be used for living, but for office purposes, make any difference in the amount to be repaid.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsNo such claims are now outstanding. Both the periodical rental compensation and the compensation accruing due at the termination of occupation were paid to Princes Hotel Brighton (1920) Ltd. who were the persons statutorily entitled. They received the rental in pursuance of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, as being deprived of possession by the requisition, and the terminal compensation as being the owners at the time when the premises148W were released. It would be contrary to public policy to disclose the amounts so paid.
The answer to the hon. Member's final inquiry is in the negative. The owners were entitled to compensation assessed by reference to the state of the premises at the time of requisition, and the entitlement is not affected by the use to which the buildings may be put on return to them.