§ SIR RANDAL CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I desire to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, whether the Duchy, when refusing to renew leases of their property, are under any statutory obligation to compensate publicans, shopkeepers, manufacturers, or any other persons, who may be doing a profitable business, at the expiration of their leases; and, if they are under no statutory obligation to do so, whether it is customary for the Duchy voluntarily to compensate those whose business may suffer or be ruined by the non-renewal of their leases.
§ MR. RUNCIMANAs regards the first part of the Question the reply is in the negative. With regard to the second part, the question of voluntary compensation for refusing to renew leases has not arisen, as it has been the practice of the Duchy of Cornwall to give occupying tenants the option of renewing their tenancies.
§ SIR RANDAL CREMERI desire to ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether the Duchy, when refusing to renew leases of their property, are under any statutory obligation to compensate publicans, shopkeepers, manufacturers, or any other persons who may be doing a profitable business at the expiration of their leases; and, if they are under no statutory obligation to do so, whether it is customary for the Duchy to voluntarily compensate those whose business may suffer or be ruined by the non-renewal of their leases.
§ *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (Sir HENRY FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.The Duchy of Lancaster is under no special statutory obligation as to compensation. When, after full consideration of all the interests involved, a renewal of a lease is refused, the outgoing lessee would only receive such compensation as he may be entitled to by Statute or custom.