§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAY (Devonshire, Honiton)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have given notice of purchasing, under the Lands Acquisition Act, the property called "Constantia" at Simla, which has been acquired with great difficulty and expense to provide much needed holiday homes for working women and girls at Simla, and for entry on which on 31st December every arrangement had been made; and whether other sites could be found available for Government purposes the taking of which would not be attended with inconvenience to a charitable institution conferring great public benefit.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The Government of India have notified their intention of purchasing this property for a public purpose. The area of Simla is so limited that Government must have the first claim upon sites. But though they may find it necessary to insist on purchasing "Constantia," I have reason to hope that they may be able to arrive at a friendly settlement with its owners by the provision of a suitable site elsewhere.