§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how long the Metropole Hotel, Brighton, was occupied by Crown Forces during the war; what assessment was submitted as a claim for war damage; what sum was, in fact, paid; and what time elapsed between submission of claim and actual payment.
Mr. WardThis hotel was occupied by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force from October, 1941, to February, 1946. It was derequisitioned on 15th December, 1946. I have no details of the claim made by the owners against the War Damage Commission. My hon. Friend presumably has in mind, however, the claim made by the owners under Section 2 (1) (b) of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, for the cost of making good the damage caused by Air Force occupation. A formal claim for an amount already provisionally agreed was submitted on 3rd September, 1947, and was paid on 3rd October, 1947. It would be contrary to well-established practice to make public the amount paid.