§ Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who owns the site on which horse sales are held at Southall; and
Whether the local authority has made an offer to purchase the site.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Stedman)I understand that the land belongs to Mr. D. R. Steel, a partner in the firm of Richard J. Steel, Incorporated Auctioneers, and that the Ealing Borough Council has no plans to purchase the site.
§ Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what circumstances the sale of horses is permitted in neighbouring streets and property.
§ Baroness STEDMANI understand that in 1698 a franchise was granted under Letters Patent to one Francis Merrick to hold a weekly market and two fairs annually on his own land at Southall for the buying and selling of horses and cattle. The Department of the Environment has no responsibilities regarding non-local authority markets deriving from Letters Patent. Nor is my right honourable friend able to interpret the law in respect of them. Any question about the present right of ownership of the Southall market franchise or whether the franchise extends to what are now streets and properties in the neighbourhood would be for the courts to determine.