§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether the War Office has recently agreed to sell a plot of land in the neighbourhood of Fairlight, Sussex, to a brewery company for the purpose of erecting a public-house; whether a similar agreement was previously made with the same company with respect to an adjoining plot of land; whether, on this previous occasion, the magistrates refused to grant a licence owing to the local feeling against the erection of a public-house in that place; and whether, having regard to the fact that this local feeling still exists, the War Office will withdraw their offer to sell the plot of land in question.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonIt is the case that a plot of War Department land near Fairlight which is no longer required for military purposes, has recently been acquired by a brewery company. The relations between the company and the War Department in this matter have been merely those of buyer and seller. Nothing is known at the War Office of any similar agreement to sell, or of a refusal of the magistrates to grant a licence. The Department is unaware of any general opposition to the-erection of a public-house at this place, but this would appear to be entirely a matter for the licensing authorities. The War Department is not in a position to withdraw from the terms of sale arranged.