HC Deb 22 May 1936 vol 312 cc1527-9
1. Earl WINTERT0N

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make in relation to the proposals contained in the London County Council (Housing Site) Bill?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)

Yes, Sir. There have been certain developments of which the House should be informed. The proposal to use as a housing site a portion of Hackney Marshes is a matter to which I have given anxious attention, not only from the housing point of view, but also because I should regard with grave concern any reduction in the area of land dedicated permanently as an open space. I appreciate fully, on the one hand, the efforts which the London County Council are making to overcome the difficulties of the London housing problem. In East London the combination of the gravity of the problem with a lack of adequate and suitable sites presents to the Council many complex difficulties. On the other hand, it would, in my view, be unfortunate even for such a purpose to reduce the area of open space now available to the public on Hackney Marshes and I was therefore concerned to ascertain whether a satisfactory alternative could be found. Accordingly I invited the Hon. Arthur Villiers, a Manager of the Eton Manor Club, to confer with me. As my Noble Friend is aware, Mr. Villiers is interested in the question of Hackney Marshes in view of the voluntary work carried on by the Club in the neighbourhood, and I desire to pay a high tribute to his generosity and public spirit. He has made, at my request, a new offer to enable the Council to add to the Marshes suitable adjoining land and so free an equivalent area of the Marshes for use as a housing site. This procedure would not require legislation, and I hope that the offer will afford a solution of the problem reasonably satisfactory to all parties. I have at once transmitted the offer to the London County Council, and I know that it is receiving their immediate and sympathetic consideration. I hope to receive very shortly the views of the Council and to be able then to make public a full statement.

Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before he can make a further statement? Are we likely to have it before the end of June, in time to consider it before the House rises for the Summer recess?

Sir K. WOOD

I hope that the matter will be dealt with in the next day or two.