HC Deb 21 July 1944 vol 402 cc487-8W
Sir R. Gower

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether structural damage to houses caused by heavy fire from large adjacent guns, has been held by the regulations of the War Damage Commission to be a fit subject for compensation.

Mr. Assheton

The definition of "war damage" is contained not in Regulations made by the War Damage Commission but in the War Damage Act, 1943, itself (see Section 27). Under this definition, damage to land and buildings caused by the firing of guns in action against the enemy is war damage, in respect of which claims should be made against the War Damage Commission; but damage caused by guns fired for training or testing purposes is not war damage, and claims for such damage are considered on anexgratia basis by the War Department Claims Commission.—