MR. CLAUDEHAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)To ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that endeavours have been made by local authorities and others to obtain concessions of portions of the parks around London which have been refused; whether he is aware of the condition of the road along the side of Bushey Park which has been made over to the London United Tramways Company; and whether the exchange which has been effected by the Office of Works of a portion of Bushey Park against the land given by the London United Tramways Company is of equal value to that of the amount of land necessary for the London United Tramways Company to buy in order to lay down a tramway without danger to the public.
(Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes) The First Commissioner is not aware that concessions of portions of Royal Parks around London have been refused to local authorities when it has been established that such concessions were necessary in the public interest and for the public safety, but concessions have been refused to private individuals. The road along the side of Bushey Park is under the control of the local authority, and the First Commissioner is in no way responsible for the condition thereof. No exchange of land has been effected by the First Commissioner with the United Tramways Company; the use of the strip of land to be added to the road by setting back the park fence will be handed over to the local authority.