Clause 4. — (Land affected by Government war work or damaged by Government war use.)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 April 1945.

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Photo of Mr William Gallacher Mr William Gallacher , Fife Western 12:00, 11 April 1945

A few minutes ago a Tory Member—that is, an intelligent Tory—made the remark that when anything in relation to the land was being discussed there were always a large number of hard faces on the Tory side. When this Amendment was moved, my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), who has a suspicious mind, said to me, "What is behind this that makes the Tories so interested in common land?" I, too, have a suspicious mind, and I immediately realized that it was necessary to ask a question. When taxation on land was introduced the fellows who wanted to dodge taxation floated limited companies. I want to ask the Chancellor if there is a fair amount of land on which the owners allow a certain amount of liberty and which they can claim under this Amendment is common land, and thus prevent the use of it by the public?