§ 37. Mr. EDEasked the Secretary of State for War how many acres of land his Department have in Selborne and Kingsley, in the county of Southampton; how many acres are unenclosed; how many were at any time subject to rights of common; and when the common rights were extinguished?
§ Mr. SHAWThe War Department land in Selborne and Kingsley parishes consists of about 1,680 acres, of which about 630 acres are unenclosed. 1,068 acres were at some time subject to common rights, and of this area the common rights over 380 acres were extinguished by award under the Enclosure Acts prior to acquisition by the War Department and over about 58 acres by agreement with the commoners after acquisition. Such common rights as exist over the 630 acres still unenclosed have not been extinguished.
§ Mr. EDEIs it proposed by the War Office to retain the whole of this land in their occupation for the present?
§ Mr. SHAWI could not give a definite answer to that question, because the War Office deals with its land as the necessities of the case demand.
§ 38. Mr. EDEasked the Secretary of State for War if he will undertake that, in future, before the freehold of any unenclosed land owned by his Department is sold, he will consult with the local authorities as to the best use to which such land can be put in conjunction with their town-planning schemes?
§ Mr. SHAWIt has been decided that in future, when it is proposed to sell the freehold of unenclosed land belonging to the War Department, the county or county borough council concerned shall receive the earliest possible intimation in order to afford them the opportunity of entering into negotiations for purchase by private treaty.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAre we to take it, then, that the councils will have the first claim in regard to the purchase of land?
§ Mr. SHAWThe hon. Member must take the answer exactly as I have given it—that councils will be given the earliest possible information and be given the fullest possible facilities for making any representations which they choose to make.