§ Mr. Powleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require persons or organisations unlawfully occupying private property on local authority land to make good the cost of any damage caused to such property or land from which they are subsequently evicted; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
No such legislation is necessary. Under the civil law an action for damages can be brought in these circumstances, and where a criminal offence has been committed, for example the offence of criminal damage, the criminal courts have power to order a convicted defendant to pay compensation for damage resulting from the offence.