§ MR. WATKIN WILLIAMSasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the Government will, in the Recess between the present and the next Session of Parliament, consider the propriety of amending the Law so as to give facilities to the people to obtain land by compulsory purchase for public purposes, such as chapels, markets, and the like, by some speedier and less expensive process than by Act of Parliament?
§ MR. DODSONSir, great facilities are now given for the compulsory purchase of land for sanitary purposes, such as sewage farms, water supply, the clearing of overcrowded areas in large towns, sites for hospitals and mortuaries, street improvements, cemeteries, &c, by means of Provisional Orders. Lands for markets may also be purchased by the same process, which, except where the confirming Bill is opposed in Parliament, is, as a rule, a very inexpensive process. Parliament has always reserved to itself the right of vetoing the compulsory purchase of private property, and at present there is no authority to which this power can properly be delegated. At the same time, there are cases to which the Provisional Order system may advantageously be extended, and I will not fail to consider the matter during the Recess.