HC Deb 17 December 1956 vol 562 cc927-8
46. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the hon. Member for Putney, as representing the Charity Commissioners, what decision has been reached regarding the sale to the Buckinghamshire County Council of 40 square yards of land at the corner of Eton Wick Road and Sheepcote Road to enable the pavement to be widened for the safety of children attending the Eton Wick school.

Sir Hugh Linstead

The solicitors acting for the Eton Parochial Church Council and the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance wrote to the Charity Commissioners on the 17th October, 1955, asking for their consent to the sale of this small piece of land. In their answer of the 24th October, 1955, the Commissioners asked to be supplied with a surveyor's report on the terms of the transaction. The solicitors replied on the 1st November, 1955, that they had written to their clients asking for the report. No report has so far been received.

Mr. Brockway

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this matter has now been held over for two years, a matter in which only £100 was involved to safeguard the lives of schoolchildren? Is he also aware that the vicar offered to surrender the land and to settle the price later and that it has been held up by the Diocesan Finance Board and by the Charity Commissioners? Does the hon. Member regard that as very charitable or very Christian?

Sir H. Linstead

The delay of about a year has been due entirely to the failure on the part of the diocesan authorities to provide the report asked for. If the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway) can accelerate the preparation and sending in of the report, I for my part will do my best to see that there is no delay in considering it.