HC Deb 29 May 1934 vol 290 cc20-1
35. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Commissioners of Crown Lands are authorised to modify ground rents on Crown property, in the interests of the property as a whole, on their own initiative, or whether in all such cases the sanction of the Treasury is required?

Captain Sir GEORGE BOWYER

I have been asked to reply. Cases involving measures so unusual as a reduction of ground rents would come within the scope of the general rule affecting all Government Departments under which specific Treasury authority is required for financial arrangements of a novel character.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in certain cases in Regent Street the rack rents received from the premises are only about one and a-half times the amount of the ground rent, and can he not see how impossible it is for business people to carry on in such circumstances?

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Does he not also see from that that the Government are the worst landlords?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Nationalise the land; that is the only solution for that.