§ Mr. C. ROBERTSasked the Under-secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the dealings of the military authorities with the West Common, Lincoln; whether he is aware that the Lincoln Corporation gave their consent to the erection of aeroplane sheds on this common on the distinct understanding that the sheds should be removed at the end of the War; and whether the War Office have any intention of departing from that understanding?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONUnder the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1916, the War Department is precluded from continuing in possession of common land for an indefinite period after the War, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that there will be no undue delay in the removal of the sheds; but I am afraid it is impossible for the Department to give any definite undertaking, as that might hamper their action in exigencies which cannot at present be foreseen.
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSasked the Undersecretary of State for War why the Lincoln Corporation, as the freeholders of the West Common, Lincoln, were not consulted before buildings other than aeroplane sheds were erected and other works executed on this common by the military authorities; why the whole of the common has been closed to the public and cleared 346W of stock when only about one-half is required for military purposes; whether he is aware that 90 per cent, of the milch cows in Lincoln were pastured on the common until the military authorities took it over, and that many stockholders had acquired their stock on the strength of their legal rights to pasture them on the common; and whether he will now take steps to prevent unnecessary interference with the milk supply of the city?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI find that the Lincoln Corporation were not consulted as regards the additional buildings, and I regret the omission, which was due to inadvertence. The common was closed to-obviate the serious risk both for the aviators and for the public involved in continued public use. Grazing had temporarily to be stopped over the whole area, but in order to meet the requirements; of the milk supply the question was immediately taken up as to the extent to which grazing facilities could be arranged for, and fencing is now being erected to divide off the area—roughly, one-half—which can be allowed for this purpose.