§ COLONEL RUGGLES-BRISEasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is true that an arrangement is in contemplation for the sale of the Crown rights over the foreshore of that part of the Essex coast included in the South Essex Estuary and Reclamation Bill to the promoters of that Bill; and, if so, for what sum; and, whether the owners of the adjoining lands have had the option of purchasing such Crown rights?
§ MR. BAXTERSir, the rights of the Crown in the foreshore alluded to in the Question of the hon. and gallant Member were transferred by an Act of 1852 to a company formed to reclaim the foreshore. That company is in course of liquidation, and the official liquidator has agreed to sell the interest of the company to the promoters of a Bill now before Parliament. The Act of 1852 provided that the Crown should be compensated for its rights by an allotment of land. The Bill before Parliament proposes instead to give a sum of £2,000 to the Office of Woods, and £1,416 to the Board of Trade. Under these circumstances, the owners of the adjoining lands have not had the option of purchasing such Crown rights.