Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the hon. Member for the Newbury Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the Commissioners have been approached with a view to contributing the share proportionate to their holding of land in Lakenheath Great Fen to pay off a mortgage of £5,000 to the Norwich Union Company; whether they have refused; and, if so, whether they are aware that, as the largest landowners in the fen, their action may probably make it impossible to continue the necessary drainage, and may cause the land to go out of cultivation?
§ Mr. MOUNTThe Commissioners have not been asked to contribute a share, but to provide by advance the whole of the sum necessary to pay off the mortgage and this they have declined to do. No scheme has been submitted to the Commissioners, or, so far as they are aware, prepared for discharge of the mortgage by proportionate contributions among landowners and for making provision for the continuance of the drainage.