20. Sir HENRY COWANasked the Secretary of State for War how long the military camps at Crowborough and Maresfield will be retained; whether the Government have already disposed of the Maresfield Park estate without making any public offer of this property; and, if so, who are the buyers and what is the price to be paid?
§ 12. Sir HENRY CAUTLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether the camp at Maresfield, Sussex, is shortly to be closed and the estate sold; if so, can he state the approximate date; and whether, before selling or offering the estate for sale by auction, he will offer the various farms to the occupiers and give them the opportunity of becoming the owners of their own holdings?
§ Mr. WALSHI will answer this question and No. 12 at the same time. As regards the camp at Maresfield, the land in question is the property, not of the Department, but of the Public Trustee as successor of a German subject who owned it before the War. I am therefore not in a position to adopt the suggestion contained in question No. 12. The areas at Maresfield and Crowborough at present occupied by the Department will, I hope, be vacated early in 1925.
Sir H. COWANCan the right hon. Gentleman answer the question of fact—has the camp been sold, and what is the price obtained for it?
§ Mr. WALSHI say the areas at Maresfield and Crowborough will be vacated early in 1925. The camp in question is 1052 situated on land not in the possession of the Department but in the possession of the Public Trustee, and has nothing to do for the time being with our Department.