§ 30. Mr. BOSSOMasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make a statement as to the action to be taken on the report of the Crown Lands Advisory Committee on Carlton House Terrace and Carlton Gardens?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe Commissioners of Crown Lands propose to adopt the report as a guide to their policy for the present, and they will therefore restrict tenancies to the purposes mentioned in the report with the intention of deferring consideration of a rebuilding policy until a reasonable period of years has elapsed. They must hold themselves free to review the matter from time to time, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, in the light of the financial results, but in view of the unique position of the 1927 Terrace, I hope there will be little or no difficulty about lettings and no occasion therefore for revision of policy until the question of rebuilding comes up for review at the time suggested in the report. The committee suggested two alternative ways of dealing with the upper storey of the Pinchin Johnson building, namely, removing the storey, if this were practicable, or, if this could not be done, leaving the building in isolation at that height instead of bringing the height of any new buildings into line with it hereafter. I have come to the conclusion that the first alternative is not practicable, and policy will accordingly be governed by the second. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Lord Gorell and his committee for their very valuable assistance in this matter.