Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-05
Text Of Churchi||s War Report to Commons

to receive terrible injuries. That is
why they try to remain at peace SO
long as possible. So far as the air
attack is concerned we have found
it to be, up to the present. far less
severe than what we prepared our
selves to endure and what we are
still ready to endure.
One thousand and seventy-five
civilians were killed during August
in Great Britain and a slightly
greater number have been seriously
injured. Our sympathy goes out to
the wounded and to those who are
bereaved, but no one can pretend
that out Of $4,000, 900 people these
are losses which If they are
multiplied two or three times, as they
may be, would be serious compared
to the majestic world issues which
are at stake.
Only 800 Houses Out q
$4,000, 900 Are Damaged.
Apart from minor or repairable
injuries, about 800 houses have been
destroyed or damaged beyond re-
pair. This is out of a total In this
island of 100000 houses.
These figures, of course, are very
different of the estimate Of damage
given by the Weir Committee, which
considered and decided against the
possibility of an insurance scheme
against afraid damage to prop
erty.
1t would in my judgment be worth
while to have q further examina-
ton of such scheme, particularly
as it would affect the small man,
and to make this examination In
the light of the fact which We now
know and also of the future posi-
bilities about which We are in far
better position to form an opinion
than we were before the war.
have, therefore, asked the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer to consider
the best way to make such review
in the light of the facts as they are
known today.
1t is very painful to see some
house or business smashed by enemy
fire and to see 1t without feeling as
sured that we are doing our best
to spread the burden SO that we all
stand in together. Damage by
footing from any other kind Of loss
or damage. The nation undertakes
the task of defending the lives and
property of it's subjects and the tax
payer against assaults from outside.
We could not, however-unless pub
lie opinion and the judgment OF the
House were prepared to separate
damage resulting from enemy fire
from all other shading on of war
loss-attempt to deal with this
matter.
Exchequer Has Schedule
To Enlarge Repayments.
If we were able to embark on such
a project as would give complete
assurance, at any rate up to GER
tain minimum figure, against war
damage by shell or bomb, think it
would be a very slight mark OF the
confidence which after some expert
ence We are justified in feeling about
the way we are going to come
through this war.
In the meanwhile, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, who has to give SC
many halfpence and to take so many
kicks, and on whose wisdom and
practical good sense those who have
been his colleagues have learned "
rely, has agreed to the following ar
rangement in addition ~ the salts
factory provisions which have al
ready been made In respect OF the
personal injuries and immediate
needs of those smitten.
At present, where the income Of
the claimants household does not
exceed f400 (about 81 900 year and
his resources are limited, payments
are made to cover damage to essen
tial household furniture up to a
maximum IF ESQ (about 5000 and
similar payments are made in re-
spect of personal clothing up to ESQ
about 1920, subject to income
limits Of f400 (about $1,000 where
there. are dependents, and ESQ
(about $1,000 where there are no
dependents.
It is now proposed to abolish
these upper limits of ESQ (about
5000 and ESQ (about 1920, re-
spectively, so that payments for
damage to furniture or clothing for
persons of limited means will now
be made up to 100 per cent Of the
damage, whatever that amount may
be. Hitherto there has been no
provision to enable workmen to re-
place tools which are their per-
sonal property and the use of which
is vital to their employment.
1t is proposed to remedy the
hardship by making provision for
payments for this purpose subject
to the same income limits which
apply in the case of the clothing
advances. Similar payments will
be made to professional people
within the same limits of income.
Discusses the Situation
OF Evacuated Coast Towns.
Finally, there is the case Of the
small retailer not insured under the
Board of Trade commodities insur-
ance scheme.
Here payments up to ESQ (about
5000 will be made within the same
income limits as for clothing or
tools in order to enable retailers to
replace stocks essential for the con-
tinuance of trading. In all these
three cases appropriate mitigating
measures will be taken in border line
cases lying just above the income
limit.
(The Prime Minister next re-
ferred to coast towns which had