HC Deb 17 February 1942 vol 377 cc1663-4W
Mr. R. C. Morrison

asked the President dent of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Mrs. Annie Peake, 19, Birkbeck Road, Tottenham, who lost her home by enemy action in September, 1940, has made repeated applications to the Public Assistance Board and to the district valuer for payment of her agreed claim for £74 to purchase necessary furniture for tenancy of a house offered her by Tottenham borough council; that she has now been directed to apply to the local office of Customs and Excise and fill up Form W.D. A.1, giving the same information already given to the other departments, after which she will be again interviewed; and, in view of the delay and discontent caused in this and similar cases, will he take steps clearly to define the functions of the Public Assistance Board, the district valuer and Customs and Excise in regard to war damage claims with a view to simplifying procedure for obtaining payment?

Colonel Llewellin

The district valuer's function is to assess claims under the Private Chattels Scheme. He is not concerned with the payment of claims. The functions of the Assistance Board and the Customs and Excise are referred to in the explanatory memorandum P.C.S.5 and are more fully set out in Notice No. 123, copies of which I am sending to my hon. Friend; copies are available at local information centres and elsewhere. The function of the Assistance Board is to make advances to persons who, immediately after suffering war damage, are in urgent need of money to replace necessary clothing and furniture which have been damaged or destroyed, and that of the Customs and Excise is to make advances to persons, who, although not in such immediate need, cannot wait for their compensation until after the war without suffering undue hardship. The Assistance Board carry out their work with the bare minimum of inquiry, but the Customs and Excise must necessarily make a more detailed investigation into a claimant's circumstances. I am looking into the case of Mrs. Peake and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I can.