§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Livery Companies of the City of London are gradually realising their property; and, in particular, that 30 acres of land at Barking, constituting Morells Charity of the Goldsmiths' Company, have been sold, and that another property of the same Company, namely, a portion of Messrs. Glyn and Company's premises in Lombard Street, has been conveyed away to that firm for £85,000; and whether, in these circumstances, he will take steps to act upon the first recommendation of the Royal Commission of the City of London Livery Companies, which was as follows:—
We think that the Companie3 should he placed by Act of Parliament under such restrictions as regards the alienation of their real and personal estate as would remove all danger of the loss of any portion of their property.
§ MR. RITCHIEMy attention has not been called to the fact that the Livery Companies of the City of London are gradually realising their property. As regards the two instances to which the hon. Member calls my attention, I may mention that I have this morning received a communication from the Clerk 704 of the Goldsmiths' Company, in which he states that no part of the 30 acres of land at Barking has been sold, nor has such a sale been under consideration. The price which was obtained for the house in Lombard Street sold to Messrs. Glyn is stated to have far exceeded any price ever previously obtained for property in the City. The purchase was made with the approval of the Charity Commissioners, and the money was invested in the name of the Official Trustee of Charitable Funds. I cannot undertake to propose legislation such as that suggested.