§ Mr. Lawasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for business firms who have had their plant and machinery destroyed, to receive interest on advance payments made before 21st October, 1946, under the War Damage Business Scheme in view of the fact that the replacement value in most cases amounts to more than 200 per cent. of the original value of the goods destroyed.
§ Sir S. CrippsNo. In my statement after Questions on 21st October, 1946, of which I am sending the right hon. Member a copy, I pointed out that the War Damage Act made no provision for the payment of interest on advances, and I explained the reasons why the Government had decided to allow interest exceptionally in respect of advances made against Business Scheme claims after that date. I then said that the Government were not prepared to re-open cases in which advances had already been made, and I see no reason for modifying that decision.