§ 56. Mr. BRIANTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if Richborough Harbour and the property attached to it have been disposed of; if so, what was the price obtained; and has the full payment been completed?
Mr. GRAHAMRichborough Harbour and certain property attached thereto were sold under an Agreement dated 24th March, 1921, the total purchase price being £1,407,000, plus cost of acquiring certain additional land. This contract, however, has not been carried through and is still the subject of legal proceedings. The final outcome of the contract cannot be stated until these proceedings have been brought to a conclusion.
§ Mr. BRIANTCan the hon. Gentleman say how long these proceedings have been going on, and is it not a fact that during this period an immense number of barges and other property has been rotting and rusting away, and this has been going on for several years?
Mr. GRAHAMI agree that a considerable time has been occupied in this matter, but recently the engineer's report was received, and this raises questions which I am bound to bell the House cannot be settled without a very complete investigation, and I am doing my best to hasten it on.