33. Mr. T. THOMSONasked whether, in view of the fact that the Inland Revenue Valuation Department has been authorised to negotiate purchases of land on behalf of local authorities where the land is required for housing and land settlement schemes because of the financial responsibilities undertaken by the central departments concerned in connection with the execution of these local schemes, he can see his way to recommend the Treasury to allow the Inland Revenue Valuation Department to render similar assistance to local authorities in connection with the purchase of land for tuberculosis hospitals and sanatoria where a large proportion of both the capital and annual cost is provided by the central departments concerned.
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin)The case cited by the hon. Member is not on all fours with that of housing and land settlement schemes, and a general extension of the arrangement under which the Land Valuation Department renders assistance in those cases is not possible, but the Ministry of Health will be able to obtain the advice and co-operation of the Valuation Department in any particular case in which they may desire to avail themselves of it before approving a scheme for the erection of a sanatorium.