MR. J. EOWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the Metropolitan Board of Works have stated to the Government their reasons for declining to purchase the site of the Coldbath Fields Prison; whether the price for which he offered the site of Coldbath Fields Prison to the Middlesex Justices of the Peace, and the Metropolitan Board of Works, was £186,960; and, whether the offer at that price was declined; and, if so, is he now prepared to sell the site to the local authorities for a smaller sum, provided that they are prepared to erect artizans dwellings upon it?
§ THE SECEETAEY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The reason stated by the Metropolitan Board of Works for declining to buy the site of Cold bath Fields Prison was that they had already set apart several pieces of ground within a very short distance of the prison as sites for improved dwellings for working people. The site was offered to the Middlesex Justices at the price named by the hon. Member—namely, £186,960. The Metropolitan Board of Works were merely asked if 593 they were disposed to enter into negotiations with the Secretary of State. The Local Authority has now been informed that the Home Office will entertain any offer that they have to make with a view to the purchase of the site.