§ Mr. Gaitskellasked the Chancellor of. the Exchequer what progress has been made with the preparation of legislation on the subject of war damage to public utility undertakings.
§ Mr. DaltonI hope to settle, in advance of the introduction of a Bill, the total amount to be paid for war damage to each group of public utility undertakings and the total amount to be contributed by each group. The total war damage payments to and contributions from each group would then be fixed by the Bill, which would provide for the making of schemes determining the sums to be paid to and contributed by particular undertakings. The Bill would also deal with undertakings which are not public utility properties but are at present covered by Section 70 of the War Damage Act, 1943. I have asked Departments to continue discussions with the various public utility groups with all possible speed.