§ 95. Mr. RENDALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Railway Hotel, Yate, Gloucestershire, has 13 acres of land let with it, and was used as a successful stock-yard until taken possession of by the Air Ministry some four years ago; whether it is a fact that no buildings were erected on this land and no use has been made of it by the Air Ministry for a considerable time, it having been let for grazing purposes; whether the Ministry now propose to purchase the land, paying for it what the owner gave for it many years ago when it was in very poor condition; whether the owners have received a much higher offer; if he is aware that the present owner, a widow, and the remainder men, are anxious to retain it for its highly valuable purposes of a sale yard and its value to the hotel; whether the Disposal Board 1661 only proposes to purchase the land to re-sell it; and, as this will involve the estate in considerable loss, will he at once give possession of the property to the owners?
Mr. HOPEAs the answer is a lengthy one, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and should my hon. Friend not be satisfied with it, perhaps he will come and see me.
§ The following is the answer referred to:
§ I am advised that the Air Ministry took possession of about 14½ acres of land belonging to trustees. It is understood that these trustees are also the owners of the Railway Hotel, and that about 13 acres of the land are let with the Hotel. The remainder was let to a firm of auctioneers as a stock sale yard. Buildings of a permanent nature have been erected by the Air Ministry on the land, but arrangements have been made by which the stock market has been carried on without interruption by the Air Ministry. The Disposal Board are negotiating for the purchase of the 14½ acres, for which they are prepared to pay the proper value. The Disposal Board have no knowledge of what the late owner gave for the land, or whether the trustees have received any other offer. The question as to the owners being anxious to retain the sale yard is not understood, because it has been let for many years past. If the purchase by the Disposal Board is concluded, it is hoped that arrangements will be made whereby the sale yard may continue fo be occupied as such. It is not thought that the owners of the land can suffer in any way by the proposed transaction. The purpose in connection with which the land is required is likely to be a great advantage to the locality generally and to the Railway Hotel in particular.