§ Mr. Hunterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Scotland regarding the compulsory requisitioning of land by Departments and of the concern regarding the possibility of Departments continuing to acquire land for permanent use after the war against the wishes of the owner; and whether he can make a statement regarding post-war arbitrary acquisition of land?
§ Sir K. WoodI am aware that the compulsory requisitioning of land may in some cases give rise to inconvenience and even hardship, but it is an inevitable feature of a war of the dimensions of the current one. The question of the acquisition of land for post-war needs and also in order to conserve the large sums of public money which have in some cases been expended on works on requisitioned land is one of considerable complexity. It is being carefully studied, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement.