§ Mr. Russellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the winding up of the War Damage Commission.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe Commission's present main function is settlement of cost of works claims, which are presented when the owners or occupiers of war damaged properties have carried out the work of reinstatement. The completion of this task is therefore, under the existing law, outside the control of the Government, and claims are likely to continue trickling in for a great many years. Annual payments against claims received amounted to £8½ million in 1960–61, and are estimated to cost £7½ million and £6 million in the next two financial years, respectively. The staff of the Commission has also decreased to under 300.
The last war damage occurred more than 16 years ago, and the Government consider it desirable in the public interest to introduce legislation to dissolve the War Damage Commission, to provide for the transfer of the remaining responsibilities and staff to the Inland Revenue Department, and to secure the early closure of the payments scheme in an orderly way.
A White Paper will be published to explain these proposals in more detail. Meanwhile arrangements are being made for the management of the staff of the Commission to be integrated with that of the Inland Revenue Department, while preserving the independent statutory position of the War Damage Commission under the existing law.