§ MR. D. GRANTasked the Secretary to the Treasury, If he can now state whether there are some sixty or seventy acres of grass land in Regent's Park which have, up to the present time, been held on yearly tenancies; if it is proposed, under the new arrangement, that a considerable portion of this land is to be converted into leaseholds for a considerable term, and at purely nominal rentals; and, if he can state what proportion of those lands are to be thrown into the Park?
§ MR. MOLLOYalso asked the hon. Gentleman, Whether his attention has been drawn to the report of a large public meeting, held on Saturday last, protesting against the large area of grass lands in Regent's Park, hitherto held on yearly tenancies, being handed over to leaseholders for grazing purposes; why those lands are not thrown open to the public for recreation purposes; and, the date of the making of those leases, what rent is to be paid for these acres, and to what purposes the rents are to be applied?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, I have seen reports of the meeting referred to; but gather that it was neither numerous nor influential. Full information upon all the points raised will be given in the Papers now being printed for Parliament; but I may say that half of what is called "the Inclosure" will be thrown open, and also 14 acres out of 52 formerly held on yearly tenancies. Of the remainder, 31 acres will be let for the periods of the leases of the houses to which they are attached, expiring between 1914 and 1932, and the remainder on annual tenancies. The rentals charged exceed £6 an acre, and the sums received are carried to the Exchequer in 2097 the usual course. I demur to the statement that the 52 acres are now at the disposal of the public. The Papers are now being printed, and I hope they may be issued before Parliament rises.