§ Mr. Sandysasked the Attorney-General whether persons who, under the provisions of the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, have been permitted to suspend payment of rent, etc., will be called upon at the end of the war to pay up the accumulated arrears due, or whether some scheme for the complete remission or scaling down of such debts is contemplated?
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is manifestly impossible now to state the policy to be adopted at the end of the war with regard to the operation of the Act in question. Such policy must necessarily depend on the circumstances then existing. The corresponding Act of 1914, though initially only a temporary Act, was made permanent by the Expiring Laws Act, 1931, but only in respect of orders made before 31st August, 1921, which was the statutory date of the termination of the last war. If, at the end of the present war, it is decided to follow precedent and to continue the Act of 1939 in force for orders made during the war, the courts would be in a position to revoke or vary the provisions of any orders made in wartime and take into account any alteration in the circumstances of the debtors.