§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority in the War Damage Act, or otherwise, the War Damage Commission, in their latest leaflet just issued, are threatening bombed residents with the loss of compensation if a certain form, about which thousands of sufferers know nothing, is not returned within 30 days of the completion of the repairs, although many of these have been carried out months ago?
§ Sir K. WoodRegulations made by the Treasury under Section 10 of the War Damage Act require that a claim for a cost of works or temporary works payment shall be made on a form, to be supplied by the Commission, within 30 days of the completion of the work or of the receipt of the form, whichever is the later. The claim form used when there was a probability that the works would have been completed before the receipt of the form (Form C.2.V) provided for the return of the form within 30 days of its receipt or of the completion of the works, whichever was the later. The Commission's arrangements are now such that the Form C.2. should usually be received by the claimant, if he complies with the regulations as to the notification of the damage, before the repairs are likely to have been completed. The pamphlet referred to has only just been produced and is only issued by the Commission to claimants, at the same time as the Form C.2. Its purpose is to give to claimants as simple an explanation as possible of the procedure to be followed in making a claim, and if there are cases where the Form C. 2 cannot be returned within 30 days of the completion of the work, but is returned within 30 days of the receipt of the form, the claim would, of course, be accepted. In addition, the Commission have a statutory discretion to extend the prescribed periods, which I am satisfied they will use in an equitable manner.