Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance. – in the House of Commons at on 19 June 1941.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he is aware that, in the letter which has just been addressed by the Prime Minister to the various Government Departments who are concerned with the requisitioning of premises, no reference is made to the serious hardship suffered by individuals who have property requisitioned for which they are paid a rental often much less than that which they themselves have to pay by the terms of the lease or agreement under which the premises are held, nor is reference made to the fact that provisional notice of requisitioning is often given for many weeks or months without letting the individual know whether his premises will actually be required or not and so preventing him from attempting to obtain other accommodation; and what action is being taken in these matters?
Sir Kingsley Wood
, Woolwich West
My right hon. Friend's note dealt generally with the use of requisitioning powers and not with individual points arising out of their use. With regard to my hon. Friend's first point, I would refer him to the Answer I gave him on 27th May; as I then went on to say, I am having an examination made of such cases of complaint as hon. Members have sent to me. I am not aware of the difficulty referred to in the latter part of the Question, but if my hon. Friend has a specific case in mind, perhaps he will let me have particulars of it.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great urgency of the matter and that many people are having to pay rent for premises from which they have been removed and for which they get no value? As to the second point, I have just received a 'letter from a constituent saying that he was ordered to vacate premises as long ago as November last in a week or fortnight's time. The premises are still standing empty and all that he has received is a very small sum towards his expenses, which in no way recompenses him.
Sir Kingsley Wood
, Woolwich West
Perhaps my hon. Friend will let me have the particulars.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of arranging for Government Departments to take over the tenancy agreements?
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
