Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his Department receives at regular intervals from the War Damage Commission details of the action taken by it in respect of the control of properties for the repair of war damage; whether he has any right of overriding such action or whether his approval is automatic and what right is vested in the owner of property who feels he has been unfairly treated by the local authorities to appeal against their decision;
381W(2) whether the right of the local authority to make representations to the War Damage Commission on the repair or non-repair of specific damaged properties in their area embodies any right to dictate the type and lay-out of houses so long as they accord with street planning, &c., requirements?
§ Sir K. WoodThe powers of the War Damage Commission to impose, as a condition of receiving a payment under the War Damage Act, requirements as to the nature of the works to be executed for making good war damage or as to the application of a value payment, are contained in Section 7 of the War Damage Act, 1941. These powers can only be exercised in the public interest as laid down by directions given by the Treasury under Section 7 (1). It is the practice of the Commission, in exercising the powers, to consult freely with the Ministry of Works and Planning and other appropriate Departments. The Commission is required by Section 7 (7) to afford local or public authorities affected an opportunity of making representations, and it is open to such authorities to make representations with regard to the type and lay-out of any works or buildings to be executed to or in place of the damaged properties. The owner or owners of the damaged property are also afforded an opportunity of putting their case before the Commission. The final decision rests with the Commission.