HC Deb 12 June 1893 vol 13 cc777-8
MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he has conveyed, or offered to convey, any part of the Millbank Prison site to the London County Council; if so, what is the acreage of the part so to be dealt with; and whether the London County Council are to pay any price for such land; if so, whether any, and what, price has been fixed?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

The Government have offered a portion of the site at Millbank to the London Council—about 9 or 10 acres—for the erection of artisans' dwellings. The price asked for the land is £2,500 per acre. The London Council has the offer now under its consideration.

MR. STUART-WORTLEY

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman was advised that £2,500 per acre represented the fair market price of the land, and one which in the interests of the taxpayers he was bound to ask?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I will answer that question. As I consider that it is very desirable that this land should be appropriated to the building of artisans' dwellings, I offered the land at a price below the market value, if they would take it for that purpose.

MR. STUART-WORTLEY

Is it not the fact that the principle of obtaining a fair market price for this land was forced on the Conservative Government in 1885 by the Liberal Party, which had a majority in the House, and exercised power without responsibility?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I cannot go back on these questions. I had to determine at, what price the land should be offered. I have offered it at a price which I think is appropriate to the purpose to which it is to be devoted, and I am prepared to defend my action.

SIR J. GORST (Cambridge University)

Has the right hon. Gentleman acted under the authority of a Statute?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I have acted on my own authority.

MR. HANBURY

Is the right, hon. Gentleman prepared to apply the same principle all over the country in the case of all Borough and County Councils?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I will answer that question when the case arises.

MR. DARLING (Deptford)

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has made the County Council outer into a contract to let the dwellings to be erected to workmen at less than the market rent, seeing that they are getting the land at loss than market value?

[No answer was given.]