§ 78. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations are taking place with the London County Council, with a view to finding a permanent site for the future of Covent Garden Market.
§ Mr. John HareThere have been no consultations about a permanent site for Covent Garden Market. As I told the House on 11th June, 1958, the Government have decided that Covent Garden Market should not be moved though it should be improved and concentrated in a smaller area. Officials of my Ministry and of other Departments concerned have, however, held meetings with officials of the London County Council and have considered a number of possible sites for an annexe to the market for storing empty containers and produce in bulk. A permanent site of about five acres which I believe to be eminently suitable for this purpose has now been found at the junction of Old Street and City Road, about two miles from Covent Garden. In the statement I have just referred to, I said that the Government had decided to introduce legislation to establish a statutory Covent Garden Market Authority which will take over some of the land and premises in Covent Garden now in market use. It is my intention in introducing this legislation to include a provision vesting in the new Market Authority the freehold interest in the site of the annexe.