HC Deb 28 July 1937 vol 326 cc3114-5W
Sir W. Davison

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in cases where it is found impossible to sell Government property by private treaty after advertisement and where public amenities will not be affected, such properties will in future be sold by public auction with any necessary conditions of sale, rather than by sealed tender, so that persons anxious to purchase the property in question who are unaware of its precise value may be able to increase the sum they proposed to offer in accordance with other bids at the auction?

Sir P. Sassoon

I am not prepared to bind myself to any particular method of sale of Government property. Public auction is resorted to where it is desirable, but in each case the method adopted is that which is expected to realise the best possible price.