§ Mr. NIELDasked the Minister of Munitions, as representing the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) whether he is aware 1656W that the Board, in exercise of the special statutory powers conferred on them, took possession of the "Swan and Pike" inn at Enfield Lock, of which the freeholders were the River Lea Board of Conservators, at the end of December, 1915, and have ever since retained such possession without agreeing to any compensation; that in the month of November last the War Losses Commission awarded the sum of £2,000 for the freehold, but allowed nothing for the use and occupation of the premises in the eleven months' interval, during which the Liquor Control Board has had possession and made profits; whether he is aware that the solicitors for the Liquor Control Board decline to permit the payment over of the compensation money to the Lea Conservancy Board unless and until a special meeting of the debenture holders of that body has been called to resolve upon the exclusion of the compensation money from the debentures, notwithstanding that the Conservancy Board has offered to place such compensation to the credit of the sinking fund, in pursuance of Section 23 of the Lea Conservancy Act, 1900; and whether, having regard to the fact that the assets of the Conservancy Board in the last audited balance sheet stand at £251,958 and the amount of the debentures are but £184,114, and having regard to the lapse of time since possession was taken and the loss of £116 14s. 3d., which, but for the seizure of the premises, would have been paid as rent, he will give directions for this legal objection to be forthwith abandoned and the compensation money paid over upon the Conservancy Board undertaking to apply the money either in the reduction of the debenture debt or in carrying out works of urgent capital expenditure for the improvement of the navigation?
§ Dr. ADDISONSpeaking generally, the facts are stated correctly in the first part of the question. As regards the latter part of the question, the Control Board are quite ready to pay the amount of compensation awarded as soon as the payee satisfies them that he is entitled to give a good discharge, but in the present case they are advised that this has not yet been done, and payment is accordingly suspended.