§ Colonel Clarkeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, in view of the end of the war, he can state exactly when and in what manner it is proposed to make war damage payments; and whether in view of the fact that house owners are continually being pressed to make repairs without any certainty that they will be included in such war damage payments, he will issue some clear guidance forthwith to all concerned.
§ Mr. DaltonAs regards the time of making value payments, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on 21st August to the hon. and gallant Member for Penrith and Cockermouth (Lieut.-Colonel Dower). A cost of works payment is the payment or repayment to the claimant of the reasonable cost incurred by him in carrying out the works, made necessary by war damage, to reinstate the property in the form in which it existed before the damage occurred, and is payable when the works are executed. Detailed guidance on the subject of cost of works payments is contained in the War Damage Commission's explanatory pamphlet ROD. I, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. In nearly all cases claimants already know which kind of payment the War Damage Commission considers to be appropriate in their case, but it is open to any claimant who is in doubt to ask for the information from the Commission's Regional Office.