§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked the President of the Local Government Board, whether the provisions of the Housing and Town Planning Bill applied to Crown lands in England; and, if not, whether he proposed so to extend the Bill?
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why that is?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Housing and Town Planning Bill does not apply to Crown lands in England and Wales, and the Crown is not bound by statute except when it is expressly mentioned. The common law in Scotland on this point is not quite so clear, and the Government proposed in the Lords to insert a clause to exempt Crown property, and the Noble Lord's brother had the privilege of defeating it.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask whether, under those circumstances, the 1646 right hon. Gentleman will advise this House to follow the more democratic House, and extend this Bill to Crown lands.