§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a report by Mr. Percival Birkett, made to the council of the metropolitan borough of Woolwich, as to the existence of rights of common upon Eltham Common; and whether he will now abandon the proposal to build upon this metropolitan common, and at once stop the felling of trees upon and the removal of the loam by the military authorities from it, with a view to its preservation as an open space for the benefit of the inhabitants of Woolwich.
§ MR. HALDANEI have not seen the report referred to, but Mr. Birkett has been in correspondence with my Department on the subject. The proposal to build is still under consideration, but the felling of trees and removal of loam has nothing to do with the proposal to build. These measures have been taken to render the ground more suitable for the purposes of military training.
§ LORD BALCARRESIs the War Office entitled to do this without bringing in a Bill?
§ MR. HALDANEI have said that no decision has yet been come to.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)Will the right hon. Gentleman prohibit the removal of the loam?
§ MR. HALDANEIt is only being removed in order to improve the ground and to make it available for training purposes.