§ Mr. WELLSasked the hon. Member for Wood Green, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that under the provisions of the will of the late William George Lovell, who died in July, 1909, a considerable sum of money was to be applied for the provision of almshouses in Bedfordshire, with weekly payments to the occupiers; and what steps have been taken to carry out the terms of the will?
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSON:The late William George Lovell, who died in July, 1909, left his residuary estate to trustees for the purpose of founding and endowing almshouses. His wife, who predeceased him, left her residuary estate for the same purpose. The greater part of Mr. Lovell's estate was represented by brewery shares, which it was not possible to dispose of profitably until 1917. It was impracticable to erect almshouses during the War, and owing to the death of the Right Hon. J. W. Gulland, M.P., who was a trustee of both wills, the proceedings were delayed Both Mr. and Mrs. Lovell directed that the almshouses 770W should be subject to such regulations and conditions as should be approved by the High Court of Justice, and in 1921 the Commissioners, finding that nothing had been done, advised that an application should be made to the Court. Recently, having ascertained that no such application had been made, they addressed an inquiry to the solicitor for Mr. Lovell's trustees, and have been informed that an application to the Court is about to be made.