§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, inasmuch as the foreshore of the United Kingdom belongs primâ facie to the Crown, he will take steps to prevent all further sales of Crown foreshores, in order to secure it for the health, enjoyment, and welfare of the people; whether he is aware that private landlords are in many parts of the country setting up claims to foreshore, and preventing access to the sea; would he state what Government Department has the duty of protecting the rights of Crown and public to the foreshore; whether such Department is willing to receive information from the public of landlords' encroachments; and whether he will instruct the police to give information to the responsible Department of Government of any notice boards erected by landlords claiming rights over foreshore?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, BrightsideThe rights and interests of the Crown in the foreshore of the United Kingdom, with a few exceptions, have been by "The Crown Lands Act, 1866," placed under the management of the Board of Trade, whose policy is to preserve such shores for the use and emjoyment of the public, and not to alienate the rights of the Crown therein, except for the purpose of some useful works in immediate contemplation, such as reclamations, sites for harbour works, piers, &c. The Board of Trade are aware that in some places landowners claim to be entitled to the foreshores adjacent to their properties; but such claims are not recognised without careful investigation by the legal advisers of the Department. The Board are prepared to receive authentic information of encroachments upon foreshores, or of unauthorised interference therewith, from any persons. Coastguard officers and officers of Customs have been under instructions to report any such attempted encroachments to the Board of Trade since 1867.