§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would state the acreage of the land in Benton Road, Ilford, conveyed to the Ilford Urban District Council by the Crown, on a contract dated 23rd January, 1906; to what purpose was the land applied; what was the amount of the purchase money; and what was the rateable value of the land conveyed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe land contained nearly 1¾ acres, and was sold as a site for a higher elementary and ordinary school. The purchase money was £1,250. The land was not separately assessed, but the average assessment of the land sold is believed to have been about 30s. per acre.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHCan the right hon. Gentleman say how this price of £1,250 was arrived at?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo, not without notice.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether this transaction carried out by the Crown comes within the category of transactions deprecated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as not business, but blackmail?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI can hardly describe the circumstances connected with any case unless I know the particulars of it.