Catalogue description Board of Trade: Insurance and Companies Department: War Damage and War Risks Insurance Schemes: Files

The earliest provision for compensation for war damage to goods in the United Kingdom was the Commodities Insurance Scheme operated under Part 11 of the War Risks Insurance Act 1939, which covered saleable commodities.

The War Damage Act 1941 introduced compensation of United Kingdom residents for damage resulting from or connected with enemy action to land and buildings (Part 1) and to business or personal chattels (Part 11). The administration of Part 1 was entrusted to a specially constituted body, the War Damage Commission, and that of Part 11 to the Board of Trade. Both War Risks Insurance and War Damage Schemes for commodities and chattels were administered by the Insurance and Companies Department of the board.

From April 1955 the work of assessing and paying claims in respect of chattels was undertaken by the War Damage Commission acting as agents for the Board of Trade, which continued to have responsibility for general policy.

In 1945 the personal chattels scheme was extended, though without any specific statutory basis, to cover British subjects returning from captivity in the Far East and intending to remain permanently in the United Kingdom. Payments were made only where unfurnished accommodation was taken in the United Kingdom. In 1949 this scheme was extended to cover all United Kingdom nationals who had lost property in the United Kingdom's Far Eastern colonies or former colonies. A special scheme was also introduced for business property lost in Burma. Payments under the extended private chattels scheme were made dependent on taking up permanent residence as a householder in the United Kingdom. Responsibility for residual work on the Far East and Burma remains with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Closing dates for application under the various schemes were announced in 1952.

The remaining functions of the Board of Trade in relation to the business and private chattels schemes in the United Kingdom were transferred to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue on 1st October 1964, as a result of the War Damage Act 1964. This act also prescribed time limits for outstanding claims; claims for goods and chattels not paid by 1st October 1974 would lapse, unless the responsibility for delay rested with the Inland Revenue.