Billets for vehicles may be provided as aforesaid in any building or on any land.

Where a billeting requisition has been produced to the chief officer of police for the area specified in the requisition he shall, on the demand of the officer commanding any portion of the regular air force, or on the demand of an officer or airman authorised in writing by such an officer commanding, billet on the occupiers of premises falling within the last foregoing section, being premises at such place in that area as may be specified by the officer or airman by whom the demand is made, such number of persons or vehicles as may be required by that officer or airman, not exceeding the number specified in the requisition.

Without prejudice to the provisions of the next following section, a chief officer of police shall exercise his functions under this section in such manner as in his opinion will cause least hardship to persons on whom billeting may take place.

A chief officer of police may to such extent and subject to such restrictions as he thinks proper authorise any constable, or constables of any class, to exercise his said functions on his behalf, and the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply accordingly.

A local authority may make a scheme for the provision of billets in their area in pursuance of billeting requisitions; and where such a scheme is in force the chief officer of police shall so far as the scheme extends exercise his functions under the last foregoing section in accordance with the scheme.

Any scheme under this section may be revoked by the local authority by whom it was made, or may be varied by that authority by a subsequent scheme under this section.

Where a local authority make a scheme under this section they shall furnish the chief officer of police for the area to which the scheme relates with a copy of the scheme.

A scheme under this section shall not come into force until approved by the Minister of Housing and Local Government; and that Minister may require the local authority to revoke any scheme in force under this section and in substitution therefor to submit for his approval a further scheme under this section.

Where persons are billeted in pursuance of a billeting requisition, the occupier of the premises on which they are billeted shall furnish such accommodation (including meals) as the officer or airman demanding the billets may require, not exceeding such accommodation as may be prescribed by regulations of F1the Defence Council made with the consent of the Treasury.

Where vehicles are billeted as aforesaid, the occupier of the premises shall furnish standing room for the vehicles.

Where persons or vehicles have been billeted in pursuance of a billeting requisition they may continue to be billeted, so long as section one hundred and fifty-four of this Act continues in operation, for such period as may be required, and the allotment of billets among the persons or vehicles in question may be varied from time to time.

In relation to premises of which there is no occupier the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply as if the person entitled to possession thereof were the occupier thereof.

On any application on the grounds mentioned in paragraph (a) of the last foregoing subsection the person or persons to whom the application is made may direct the billeting elsewhere of such number of the persons billeted as may seem just or may dismiss the application.

On any application on the grounds mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section the person or persons to whom the application is made may grant such exemption as may seem just or may dismiss the application.

An application under this section shall not affect billeting pending the determination of the application.

Where any damage is caused to any premises by the billeting of persons or vehicles in pursuance of a billeting requisition, the occupier of the premises, or if there is no occupier the person entitled to possession thereof, may recover from F2the Defence Council compensation of an amount equal to the depreciation caused by the damage in the value of the premises.

Where any person other than the recipient of compensation under the last foregoing subsection has any interest in the premises, being an interest the value of which is depreciated by the damage, he shall be entitled to recover from the recipient such part of the compensation as may be just.

A county court shall have jurisdiction to deal with any claim arising under subsection (1) or (2) of this section irrespective of the amount of the claim.

At any time when this section is in operation any officer not below the rank of squadron leader commanding any part of the regular air force in the United Kingdom may issue a requisitioning order authorising the requisitioning, from among vehicles in any area in the United Kingdom specified in the order, of such vehicles, or such number of vehicles of such description, as may be specified in the order.

The purposes for which an order under this section may authorise vehicles to be requisitioned shall be such purposes for meeting the needs of any of Her Majesty’s forces as may be specified in the order.

If the officer to whom the requisitioning order was issued, or any officer or airman authorised by him in writing, is satisfied that the said person has refused or neglected to furnish a vehicle in accordance with a direction under any of the provisions of the last foregoing subsection, or has reasonable ground for believing that it is not practicable without undue delay to give a direction to the said person, he may take, or authorise any officer or airman to take, possession of the vehicle; and where possession is taken of a vehicle in pursuance of this subsection this Part of this Act shall with the necessary modifications apply as if the vehicle had been furnished by the person having possession of the vehicle in accordance with a direction to furnish it immediately at the place where it is, and, in particular, payment shall be made therefor as if it had been so furnished.

The chief officer of police for any area specified in a requisitioning order shall, on a request to that effect made by or on behalf of the officer to whom the order is issued, give instructions for securing that so far as practicable constables will be available, if required, for accompanying officers or airmen requisitioning vehicles in pursuance of the order.

Subject to the provisions of this section, where a vehicle has been furnished in pursuance of a requisitioning order it may be retained, so long as section one hundred and sixty-five of this Act is in operation, for any period for which it is required for the purpose specified in the order or for any other purpose connected with the needs of any of Her Majesty’s forces.

While F6a call-out order under section 52 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 is in force authorising the call out for permanent service of members of the air force reserve, then in so far as a requisitioning order so provides the person by whom any vehicle is to be furnished may be required to furnish it for the purpose of its being purchased on behalf of the Crown.

The person by whom a vehicle is furnished in pursuance of a requisitioning order for the purpose of being purchased shall be entitled to be paid the value of the vehicle at the time at which it is furnished.

The Fourth Schedule to this Act shall have effect as to the time for the making of payments under this section and as to the determination of disputes arising thereunder.

Without prejudice to any penalty under the last foregoing subsection, if any person is obstructed in the exercise of powers of inspection conferred on him by regulations under the last foregoing section, a justice of the peace may, if satisfied by information on oath that the person has been so obstructed, issue a search warrant authorising a constable named therein, accompanied by the said person, to enter the premises in respect of which the obstruction took place at any time between six o’clock in the morning and nine o’clock in the evening and to inspect any vehicles which may be found therein.

Subject to the provisions of this section, the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act and the provisions of the Fourth Schedule thereto, shall apply to aircraft and stores as they apply to vehicles except that such of those provisions as relate only to mechanically-propelled vehicles and trailers normally drawn thereby shall not apply to stores.

Where stores are required for, and can be conveyed with, a vehicle or aircraft with respect to which a direction is given under paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section one hundred and sixty-six of this Act, such a direction may be given as well in relation to the stores as in relation to the vehicle or aircraft, and the said foregoing provisions and Schedule shall apply accordingly:

Notwithstanding anything in section one hundred and sixty-seven of this Act, stores to be furnished in pursuance of a requisitioning order at any time may be required to be furnished for purchase on behalf of the Crown.

Whenever it appears to the Secretary of State that the public interest so requires, he may by order direct that section one hundred and fifty-four or one hundred and sixty-five of this Act, or both those sections, shall come into operation either generally or as respects such area in the United Kingdom as may be specified in the order; and that section or those sections, as the case may be, shall thereupon come into operation and remain in operation so long as the order has effect.

As soon as may be after either of the said sections has been brought into operation on any occasion, the Secretary of State shall report that fact to Parliament.

An order under this section shall, subject to any revocation or variation thereof, continue to have effect for the period of one month from the making thereof:

Any power to make regulations conferred by this Part of this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The power to make orders conferred on the Secretary of State by the last foregoing section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.