§ Lieut.-Colonel APPLINasked the Minister of Health the grounds upon which he has recently sanctioned a loan for the purchase of land as an open, space in the South Mimms Rural District Council's area; whether he is aware that this district is all open fields; and whether, in view of the local opposition to this expenditure, he will cancel or delay the expenditure, having regard to the Government's instructions regarding economy in public expenditure?
Sir H. YOUNGThe loan was sanctioned after public local inquiry because the Department were satisfied that there was need for a public open space, that the land was suitable, that the price was reasonable, that if the land were not purchased now it would pass into the hands of the builder and it was, therefore, true economy to purchase now. There is much undeveloped land in the district, but only a small fraction of an acre was owned by the council as public open space, and the area served by the open space is rapidly developing.