49. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-D OYLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has received any representations as to the transfer of Billingsgate Market to the site now occupied by the Custom House; and, if so, what reply has been given?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)In regard to the first part of the question, representations have been received from the Corporation of the City of London. In regard to the second part, the reply has been to the effect that, while the Government are prepared, as far as possible, to assist the Corporation in effecting this urgent and important development of the Billingsgate Market, they can only consider the transfer of the Custom House site in relation to the cost of rehousing on a new site the staff of the Customs and Excise Department. The Corporation were asked last year to indicate any definite proposals they could make to meet this essential requirement, but no reply has yet been received.