§ Mr. CECIL HARMSWORTH (on behalf of Mr. Hooper)asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he was aware that the plan of common lands made in respect of and referred to in the Act of Parliament, 24 Geo. III., 1784, which divided and enclosed such common lands, was missing, and that the owners of land in the district affected were unable to tell if their land was or was, not part of such common lands; and whether he would obtain from the lord of the manor a copy of such plan to which Members of this House might have access?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI beg to answer this question on behalf of my hon. Friend. I presume that the lands alluded to are those dealt with in the Kingswinford Enclosure Act, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the then Home Secretary to a question on this subject on 27th July, 1897 (Hansard, Volume 51, column 1223). Though the matter is not one that comes in any way within my authority, I have communicated with the solicitor to the Earl of Dudley, who is lord of the manor, and he informs me that the plan originally deposited in the parish church has been missing for many years, but that it is believed that there are other copies in the district; and that persons interested in the enclosed land have been permitted to see the maps in Lord Dudley's possession, and recently a copy was furnished on payment of the cost to an applicant.