§ 53. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Agriculture the present position with regard to the proposal for selling to the Tilbury local authority Tilbury Fort, on the River Thames; and the price they are asking for the fort; or, alternatively, for what purpose is the fort being used?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)I must apologise to the hon. Member and to the House for not being in my place when this question was asked on the first round. Since 1931, when the property was transferred by the War Department to the Commissioners of Crown Lands, the fort itself has been unoccupied and no use has been found for it, but there is a considerable area of grazing land surrounding the fort which is let on annual tenancy. The Tilbury Urban District Council has been invited by the Commissioners on a number of occasions to acquire the fort property, and the Essex County Council has also been approached, but so far as the Commissioners are aware no definite decision to proceed with the proposal has been arrived at by the local authorities. The price to be paid would be a matter for settlement between the Crown surveyors and the valuer instructed to act on behalf of the local authorities.
§ Mr. THORNEIf a reasonable offer is made for the land, will the Minister of Agriculture favourably consider the matter?
§ Mr. ELLIOTCertainly.