§ Mr. Ethertonasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average period which elapses between the time a firm makes a claim under the War Risks Insurance Act, 1939, for stock damaged by enemy action and the time when an assessor is appointed by the Board of Trade; and whether he is aware of the dislocation and loss which the present delays cause?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe instructions to the insurance officials acting for the Board of Trade under the Commodities Insurance Scheme provide that they should, on receiving information of damage to commodities from air raids, without waiting for actual claims, instruct an assessor to proceed at once to the scene. Owing to pressure in particular localities there may obviously be occasions when an assessor is not immediately available, even after receipt of606W the actual claim, but my hon. and gallant Friend can rest assured that every effort is being made to increase the number of assessors and (by transfer of assessors from one area to another and other means) to make the best use of existing expert personnel to minimise delay.