§ MR. WHITEHEAD (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works how many acres of Regent's Park are being appropriated by the Zoological Society under the extension now in progress; whether the public using the Park have obtained any, and what, facilities in consideration of this diminution in the area available for their use; whether he will make arrangements to secure that the public may have an uninterrupted view through open fence work, and unobstructed by walls, shrubs, or buildings, into that part of the Park which is now being transferred to the Zoological Society; and on what terms this transfer of a portion of the public Park is being made to a private society.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. HARCOURT,) Lancashire, RossendaleThree acres have been appropriated to the Zoological Society from Regent's Park on an annual agreement for the nominal rent of £5 per annum. I made it a special consideration of this extension of the Gardens that there should always be a free show of animals towards the Park on a portion of the new site granted to the Society, and I am glad that I have thus been able to afford to the poorer children of the Parks a gratuitous addition to their rare pleasures.
§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the erection of a double railing at this part of the boundary?
§ MR. HARCOURTI have already provided for a double railing in order to protect the animals, as well as to give pleasure to the children.
§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that no public rights are parted with?
§ MR. HARCOURTNo public rights can be parted with. The agreement is an annual one and is renewable at the pleasure of the Crown.