LORD BALCAREES (Lancashire, Chorley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if it is proposed by his Department to enclose or build upon any land now treated as common land in Woolwich or the neighbourhood.
§ MR. HALDANEIt is proposed to erect buildings for the Royal Army Medical Corps on the north side of Shooters Hill Road, opposite to the Hospital buildings. This land forms part of Woolwich Common, which is War Department freehold, over which the public have no rights, except such as are enjoyed by consent of the War Department.
§ LORD BALCARRESIs not this particular bit of land within the powers of the Metropolitan Act, upon which no buildings may be erected?
§ MR. HALDANEIf the noble Lord is right, the War Department is breaking the law, but I do not think they are. Perhaps he will put down a Question.
LORD BALCAREESI would like to press this, as we are nearing the end of the session. Was it not proposed by the War Office to build upon Eltham Common recently, and was it not proved to their satisfaction that they would be acting illegally in doing so, and was not their claim abandoned?
§ MR. HALDANENo; it was abandoned out of consideration for the public, and we did not wish to infringe on Eltham Common. If the noble Lord 396 wants information, I think I can promise it definitely next Monday.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOODIf the land is taken from the use of the public, will the War Office give a fresh piece of land to it?
§ MR. HALDANEIt is not common land taken from the public; it is private land belonging to the War Office.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of giving other land in place of it?
§ MR. HALDANECertainly not.