§ MR. BRAMSDON (Portsmouth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the advertisement in the local papers at Portsmouth relating to the letting by public tender of nearly 400 acres of War Department land at Hilsea in seven lots, in which it is stated that intending I applicants may tender for any or all or any combination of the holdings; if it is his intention, as far as possible, to let these lots to separate tenants in preference to letting the whole to one or two persons only, and so carry out the policy of the Government of dividing up Crown lands into small holdings; and whether he will ascertain, by public advertisement, if there is a distinct demand in the neighbourhood for small allotments, and, if so, divide up and let some of the land mentioned in that manner.
§ MR. J. A. PEASE (for MR. HALDANE)It is intended to let the seven lots in question separately. It must be pointed out that War Department land differs from Crown lands in respect of the purposes for which it may be required, and it is considered essential that War Deparment land should only be let upon terms which admit of re-occupation without difficulty.
§ MR. J. A. PEASEThe Answer is in t he negative. The War Office can only 1094 let the lands under conditions admitting of re-occupation without difficulty. There would therefore be no advantage in advertising as suggested.