§ 66. Sir EDWARD GOULDINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Corporation of Worcester are engaged upon a town-planning scheme, and in order to facilitate preparation of the plan required for that purpose sought permission to ascertain the boundaries of the various holdings in the town-planning area and the owner's names from the plan in the possession of the Land Values 1555 Office, but that the permission was refused; whether, having regard to the fact that many local authorities are now engaged in the preparation of similar schemes, advantage can be taken of the information which has been obtained by the Land Values Office at the public expense for facilitating the preparation of the plans of the town-planning areas by furnishing information which cannot be considered in any way as confidential; and whether he will give the matter his early consideration and authorise the necessary permission?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)Information as to the ownership and boundaries of land has been principally obtained from the statutory Returns made under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. I am unable to authorise a departure from the rule under which the information contained in these Returns has always been regarded as confidential.