§ MR. MAGNIACasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware of the great decrease in the population of the parish of Stagsden, in Bedfordshire, as shown by the last Census; and, if so, whether he has any reason to believe that such decrease has been caused by any action of the Commissioners of Crown Lands, who hold a large estate in that parish?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHIn consequence of the Question of my hon. Friend I have made inquiries, and find that between the Censuses of 1871 and 1881 there has been a decrease of 132 in the population of Stagsden, which is at the rate of 19 per cent. I find also that five other parishes in the Bedford Union show decreases of from 18 to 24 per cent. It will thus be seen that Stagsden is not peculiar among its neighbours in showing a decrease, which has also, I fear, occurred in most of the agricultural districts of England. With regard to the action of the Crown. I find that at the time of the purchase by the Crown there were 103 cottages, of which 28 had to be pulled down as unfit for decent habitation. There are now 93 cottages, most of which are of a superior class both in size and arrangements. The Crown provides additional cottages for the farms when asked to do so by the tenants for the occupation of their labourers. I do not, therefore, think that the decrease in the population of Stagsden is to be attributed to the action of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests.
§ MR. MAGNIACgave Notice that, on going into Committee of Supply, he would move that it was undesirable that 1641 the Commissioners of Crown Lands and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners respectively should make further purchases of real property so as to increase the extent of the land held by them in mortmain.
§ MR. J. HOWARDinquired, whether the 24 cottages which were pulled down at Stagsden had been reported upon by the rural sanitary authority?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHsaid, he believed they were, and that notice was given that they ought to be pulled down.