§ 90. Lieut.-Colonel CROFTasked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the fact that land and houses in Stamford Road, Kensington, have been purchased for the purpose of national telephones at a price from £23,000 to £25,000 for the freehold, which price does not include compensation to leaseholders; whether he is aware that in the neighbourhood there are the Trafalgar Place and Southend sites, with a total area of 20,000 square feet, for which the price asked is £12,000; and whether he will take immediate steps to cause inquiries to be made into this matter with a view to saving a considerable sum of money?
§ Sir J. GILMOURPerhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will be so good as to refer to a reply given on the 2nd March. I should, however, like to reassure him 1551 on the question of price, which I am glad to say is much lower than he indicates. In fact, taking into account the value of residual properties included in the Stamford Street site, the cost to the Government is approximately the figure he quotes for the Trafalgar Place site. The acquisition of the latter site would involve the demolition of residential property and the immediate eviction of the tenants.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTWhat is the amount of compensation to the leaseholders of the former site?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI must have notice of that question.