HC Deb 08 June 1944 vol 400 cc1531-2W
Mr. Bossom

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be able to state the basis upon which the owners of large commercial properties or industrial premises which have been bomb-damaged can ascertain the amount of Government compensation or contribution that they will be receiving on account of war damage to their former buildings, in order that they may go ahead and make the necessary arrangements for their post-war building.

Sir J. Anderson

In nearly all cases of extensive war damage the War Damage Commission has already advised owners of the basis of compensation applicable to their case, namely, whether a cost of works payment or a value payment is likely to be appropriate. Where a cost of works payment is appropriate, the amount of this payment cannot, in cases of severe damage which it is not yet possible to repair, be assessed, since it is based upon the reasonable cost of making good the war damage at the time when the damage is made good. Where, however, the appropriate payment is a value payment, the amount of the payment is ascertainable, and I am informed that the Commission hope to begin the issue of their preliminary decisions to the various owners concerned in a few months' time and that the great majority of such decisions will be issued before the end of 1944.

Mr. W. J. Brown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to avoid penalising persons whose homes have been destroyed by enemy action and who find it necessary to make some arangements involving withdrawal of part of the compensation due to them from the War Damage Commission, he will now agree to pay the accrued interest on the moneys so drawn.

Sir J. Anderson

The provisions of Section 22 (2) of the War Damage Act, 1943, do not empower the War Damage Commission to pay as an advance any sum in respect of interest accrued on a value payment. It is, however, the practice of the Commission, in deciding what amount can be paid, without prejudice to the rights of any other person concerned, by way of an advance on account of a value payment, to take account of any accrued interest as a set off against deductions due to be made from the payment in respect of war damage contributions not yet paid.