HC Deb 01 April 1908 vol 187 cc487-8
MR. FELL (Great Yarmouth)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if, in taking over the drill halls from the Volunteers, the Public Loan Works Board will advance the money, not only to redeem the shares, but to pay the interest which may be, or is due upon them.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) Haddington

No drill halls will be taken over by the Public Works Loan Commissioners. Property on which there is a mortgage held by the Commissioners will be transferred to the County Association with the mortgage. If any property on which there is a mortgage held by persons other than the Commissioners is transferred to the Association the question of transferring the mortgage to the Commissioners will be considered in the autumn. In the case of any property transferred to a County Association subject to mortgage, the interest will be paid, as it becomes due, by the County Association out of funds provided by the War Office.

EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)

was understood to ask if the right hon. Gentleman would consider the possibility of paying off all the mortgages.

MR. HALDANE

said they had just paid off an enormous number of mortgages.

MR. FELL

asked whether the interest due would be paid as well as the mortgages?

MR. HALDANE

said that if there had been interest in arrear they had paid it off.