§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Crown Estate Commissioners have afforded to Ipswich borough council in their appeal to the High Court in respect of their right to levy mooring charges. [1867]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithWhile the Crown Estate has, at the council's request, provided some historic information about its own mooring charges, it has afforded no assistance, financial or otherwise, to the council in the preparation of its case to the Court of Appeal. The Crown Estate has, however, sought leave to intervene in the hearing in its own right, given its legitimate interest in the matters of principle raised by the case.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure the Crown Estate Commissioners have incurred in each of the last 10 years in maintenance of the Lymington river bed and foreshore. [1868]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe Crown Estate owns the foreshore and bed of the tidal stretch of the river, but has no statutory duty to maintain it and no expenditure has been committed. Maintenance of the river bed and foreshore is the responsibility of the Lymington harbour commissioners, who manage the river as a small trust port in accordance with the Lymington Pier and Harbour Order 1951. The Crown has assisted the harbour commissioners in fulfilling their duties, by granting the commissioners a lease of the foreshore and bed of the river.