§ Q26. Mr. John Hallasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the proposed sale of 250 acres of the Chequers' woodlands to the Forestry Commission is contrary to the wishes of the late Lord Lee of Fareham as expressed in the deed of gift when he gave Chequers to the nation; and if he will refuse his approval of the sale.
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§ The Prime MinisterThe House will recall that the original deed of gift which made Chequers available to the nation was amended by the Chequers Estate Act, 1958. I am informed that the amendments then made were fully approved by Lady Lee of Fareham, as they were, of course, by this House. One effect of these amendments was to enable the Trustees to sell the woodlands referred to in the hon. Member's Question for the benefit of the Trust, subject to the approval of the Prime Minister in office; and the House was told by the then Home Secretary (now Lord Butler of Saffron Walden) during the Second Reading Debate on the Bill which became the Chequers Estate Act, 1958, that, should the Bill be approved, the Trustees planned to sell the woodlands to the Forestry Commission. My approval to the sale of the woodlands, as required under clause 10 to the schedule to the Chequers Estate Act, 1958, has already been given.