§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether a portion of the site of Coldbath Fields Prison has been sold to the Post Office; and, if so, what is the area of the land sold, and the price obtained; whether the site of the Clerkenwell House of Detention, and a portion of the site of Coldbath Fields Prison, have been sold to the London School Board; and, if so, what is the area of the land sold, and the price obtained; and, if not, whether negotiations are in progress; what portion of the sites of the two Prisons still remains undisposed of, and to what purpose it is proposed to apply it; and, whether, having regard to the requirements of the crowded neighbourhoods of the Prisons, he can state why the aggregate area of the sites have not been utilized for the erection of dwellings for the labouring classes, and for the creation of open spaces?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The Treasury have arranged that the Post Office shall have at least five acres of the Coldbath Fields site. The Post Office being a Government Department no question of price arises. No portion of the Coldbath Fields site has been sold 1367 to the London School Board. The Clerkenwell site has not yet been sold to the London School Board; but negotiations are in progress. There are about four acres of the Coldbath Fields undisposed of, some portion of which may be wanted by the London School Board. Endeavours have been made, by negotiation with the Metropolitan Board of Works and private persons, to utilize the sites for the erection of low-rented artizans' dwellings, but without success. The appropriation of part of the site to the Post Office was for the purpose of satisfying a public want. The sale to the School Board, if it is carried out, will avoid the removal of existing artizans' dwellings and the eviction of the occupiers, which would take place if the School Board purchased another site in Clerkenwell. I may add that the Clerkenwell Vestry were of opinion that additional artizans' dwellings were unnecessary in this locality.