HC Deb 05 June 1939 vol 348 c56W
Sir W. Edge

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government is still adhering to its proposals to make compensation for air-raid damage to private property in case of war, dependent upon the distribution of available State funds pro rata over the whole field, or whether it will now, in view of the progress made with rearmament and military training, make further investigation into evolving a scheme of pure insurance?

Sir J. Simon

The Government remain of the opinion that, except in the case of marine war risks and essential commodities, it is not practicable to provide a scheme of insurance against the risk of war damage to private property and they adhere to the policy which I outlined in the statement which I made to the House on 31st January last.

Commander Locker-Lampson

asked the President of the Board of Trade when His Majesty's Government intend introducing legislation for the insurance of war risks?

Mr. Cross

My right hon. Friend intends in the near future to introduce a measure to deal with the insurance of ships and cargoes against marine war risks and of certain classes of commodities against war risks on land, but he is not yet in a position to name any date.