§ 104. Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Newport Housing Committee have applied for sanction to purchase three sites for housing in the borough but up to now has not received such sanction; and, seeing the urgency of providing houses, will he see that sanction is immediately given so that this authority can proceed with the same?
§ Major ASTORYes, Sir. Three sites for housing have been submitted to the Local Government Board by the Newport Cor- 1819 poration, but the Board were not prepared to sanction loans for the purchase of the land, in view of the price demanded. The purchase of the one site has now been arranged at £3,815 less than the price which the council proposed to pay; in the case of another site it is hoped that a satisfactory arrangement will shortly be made. For the third site it is understood that the vendor is not willing to make any reduction in his original price, and the Board have intimated that they are not prepared to sanction a loan for £16,200 for the purchase of land which is valued at £10,750.
Colonel THORNEWhat is the Board going to do in a case of that kind where the landlord absolutely refuses to sell, and there is no other land vacant?
§ Major ASTORThere are compulsory powers if it is impossible to acquire the land by agreement.