§ MR. LEA (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any information as to the intentions of the Midland Railway Company in regard to their development of the property in Somers Town, the freehold of which they acquired nine years ago, particularly in regard to the re-housing of the people.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaI have no information as to the intentions of the company with respect to this subject, but I under stand that the St. Pancras Borough Council have been in negotiation with the company with regard to the property, and I have requested the council to inform me of the present position of the matter.
§ MR. LEAMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that in the last two years I have on more than one occasion put Questions with regard to the policy consistently pursued by this railway company, a policy of obviating 1408 their obligations under the Housing of the Working Classes Act?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSYes, I am aware of that, but the company and the borough council are divided as to where the houses should be situated. The company own the freehold of the site near the station, which they contemplate utilising for the extension of their property. They have offered the council an alternative site, but the council and the railway company cannot agree. I have done my best to secure that both of them should come to an as immediate decision as possible.
§ MR. LEAMay I ask whether in the meantime the people in the neighbourhood are suffering while the railway company are trying to save the pockets of their shareholders?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI can assure the hon. Member that what I can do I have done and will continue to do.