Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the impracticability of dealing with damage done to commons during the war by the Services, by claims for compensation made by the lord of the manor and the commoners; whether, in view of the public interest in commons as open spaces, as an alternative to the payment of compensation, arrangements can be made by the Service responsible for the damage, to take steps, when hostilities case, to restore to their former state, as far as is practicable, the damaged commons as open spaces and grazing grounds.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe difficulty of formulating claims under the Compensation (Defence) Act in respect of Common Land is appreciated: the public interest in commons as open spaces is also appreciated and His Majesty's Government has under consideration the question of rehabilitation of such land.