§ MR. WEDGWOODI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what purchase price was paid for 1,760 acres of foreshore at Shoeburyness, purchased in 1906; what was this foreshore assessed at for rating purposes before the purchase; who was the owner of the land; and who at the War Office was responsible for concluding the bargain at this price.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War what the annual cost to this country is in respect of the supply of water to the barracks at Standerton; how long this charge is to continue; will it continue if there are no troops there; who is responsible for making this contract; and what notice has been taken of his action.
§ MR. HALDANEI must refer my hon. friend to the evidence taken before the Public Accounts Committee which will shortly be in the hands of hon. Members, and as regards Question 64 also to the evidence taken before the Public Accounts Committee in 1907.
§ MR. WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the names of the persons from whom this land was bought appears in the evidence? Is the action of the War Office on this scandal as reported in the evidence defended?
§ MR. HALDANEIf the hon. Gentleman had heard my Answer two days ago, he would have known that this occurred before I came into office. But I have looked into the matter and I find that the action taken was most reasonable, and it resulted in a saving of many thousands of pounds to the War Office, as not a shadow of a title could be set out for the Woods and Forests Department.
§ MR. WEDGWOODBut the property was purchased not from the Woods and Forests Department but from a private owner.
§ MR. HALDANEYes, and as far as I can see the private owner had a perfect right which the Woods and Forests Department refused to contest. We were advised that if it had been contested we should have been landed into an expensive law suit and probably have been defeated.
§ MR. WEDGWOODThe right hon. Gentleman has not stated what the foreshore was assessed at for rating purposes before the purchase?
§ MR. HALDANEI daresay it was something very small, but then what use can be made of land of that kind? We, however, had to get more land for artillery practice, and it was well worth our while paying the comparatively small sum that was asked for it.
§ MR. WEDGWOODI——
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order. It is now a quarter to four.