§ Mr. Culverwellasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain building societies stipulate that a surveyor shall be employed for the purpose of assessing damage to house property by enemy action; and whether, in cases where a surveyor is employed, he will take steps to ensure that the cost should be shared in proper proportion between mortgagor and mortgagee?
§ Captain CrookshankI am not aware that the building societies are insisting on the employment of a surveyor as suggested in the first part of the Question, and I would point out that there is no requirement by the Government that claims for compensation for war damage should be drawn up with professional advice. Where, however, in the case of a mortgaged property which has suffered war damage the claimant prefers to employ a surveyor in connection with the making of a claim, it would seem to be a matter for private arrangement between the mortgagor and of the mortgagee as to how the expenditure involved should be apportioned.