HC Deb 19 July 1870 vol 203 cc485-6
THE COMPTROLLER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Lord OTHO FITZGERALD)

reported Her Majesty's Answer to Address [8th July] as follows:— I have received your Address, praying that I will give directions that no Public Offices be erected on that portion of the Thames Embankment, which is reserved to the Crown, and which has been reclaimed from the River at the cost of the Ratepayers of the Metropolis. As no Public Office can be erected on the ground in question without a Vote of Parliament, the Souse has in its own hands the means of giving effect to the prayer of the Address, and My Government will not ask for such a Vote, unless they should have reason to suppose that it is likely to meet with the approval of the Souse. If the Address were intended to exclude all employment of the land for profit by building, it would be necessary to observe, that the properly was granted by a recent Act in exchange for valuable interests; that such a limitation of its use would appear not to have been within the contemplation of the Statute, and that if fit to be effected, it ought to be imposed by the authority of the Legislature, in a Bill for the purpose, which would give opportunity for the examination of the whole case in its present and prospective bearings. Should such a Bill be proposed for consideration on its merits, I will give directions that its free discussion shall not be hindered by any formal difficulty which it may be in the power of the Crown to remove, nor will any step be taken during the current year to appropriate the land, or interfere with the final decision of the question.