§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg-to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to proposals made to His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests by the London County Council in 1899, and since renewed, with a view to secure, upon the expiration of the leases and at a fair valuation, the strip of freehold land required for the setting back of the buildings on the northern side of Piccadilly in order to widen to 80 feet the narrow portion of the thoroughfare between the Circus and Sackville Street; whether, notwithstanding these negotiations, new leases have been recently granted in respect of some of the property needed for the improvement, and if so, what are the dates when these leases were granted, and when will they expire; and, seeing that the granting of new leases would prevent the widening of that portion of Piccadilly for years, whether he can see his way to assist the object which the London County Council has in view.
§ THE FIN ANCIALSECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to this matter. The circumstances cannot be fully explained within the limits of an answer to a Question, but they will be found fully set forth in the correspondence which has passed between the County Council and the Treasury, a portion of which has already appeared in the public press. If the hon. Member desires further information, I shall be happy to show him the whole correspondence.
§ MR. LOUGHWill the hon. Gentleman undertake that no more leases are granted without the consent of the London County Council?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI cannot say without the consent, but I will undertake that no leases shall be granted without prior communication with the County Council, with the desire to facilitate what we all recognise to be a much-needed public improvement. Perhaps I ought to say that such leases as were granted were granted under a misapprehension, founded on a letter sent by the surveyor of the London County Council in reply to one from the Surveyor to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, which led the Commissioner to believe that the County Council had abandoned all idea of widening one end of Piccadilly.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINYes, the shortest lease has still between twenty and thirty years to run. It is hoped that the arrangements which have been made will facilitate the work of widening Piccadilly at an earlier period.