§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that many householders have already paid far more in war damage contributions than they are claiming in compensation for enemy action; and whether the Commission is empowered to take this fact into consideration in avoiding delay in settlement?
§ Captain CrookshankAlthough there is no direct relationship under Part I of the War Damage Act between the payment of contributions and the right to payments on account of war damage, the Board of Inland Revenue, as my right hon. Friend stated on,4th October last in reply to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) are prepared under certain circumstances to allow an owner to defer payment of the contribution while he has claims outstanding with the War Damage Commission. It would not, be equitable, even if it were administratively possible, for the War Damage Commission to give priority to claims preferred by the many owners of property, who have paid more in contributions than the amount claimed by them in respect of war damage.