Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the future of his Department's Paglesham Estate in Essex; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Paglesham Estate of about 950 acres, was generously given to my predecessor free of charge in 1943 by the late Mr. A. D. Martin as a contribution to the war effort.
One hundred and fifty acres of the Estate are still being used, under the Agricultural Research Council, by the National Vegetable Research Station for experimental work on seed breeding and multiplication. In addition about 60 acres of saltings are being used by my Ministry, largely for oyster research. But the remaining 740 acres are no longer needed by my Department. I have therefore decided to sell this part of the Estate by public auction on the 6th September next, and with the agreement of my right hon. Friends, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, to devote the proceeds of the sale to the King's Fund, of which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions is principal trustee.
62WThe King's Fund is a registered charity. It exists to help those disabled in the service of their country, and their dependants, by making grants for exceptional needs that are not catered for in the normal way. I am satisfied that by using the proceeds of the sale of the Paglesham Estate for this fund we shall be doing as Mr. Martin would have wished.