§ 48. Mr. Bonham Carterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take, in view of the fact that the War Office have erected a blockhouse on Okehampton Common without applying to the Minister of Agriculture under Section 194 of the Law of Property Act, 1925, to extinguish the rights of the commoners in that area; and what compensation he proposes to make to the commoners in question.
§ Mr. John HareSection 194 of the Law of Property Act lays on me the duty 7W of considering applications for consent to the erection of buildings on common land which would prevent or impede access. It does not give me any other power to act.
A consent under Section 194 does not of itself extinguish any rights of common. I have no responsibility for paying compensation in the circumstances referred to. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War about this matter and he will be writing to the hon. Member as soon as possible.