St. James's Theatre

Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 July 1957.

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Photo of Mr Richard Stokes Mr Richard Stokes , Ipswich 12:00, 9 July 1957

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the rateable value of the St. James's Theatre; and the estimated value of the site when the theatre has been pulled down.

Photo of Mr Henry Brooke Mr Henry Brooke , Hampstead

The present rateable value of the St. James's Theatre is £3,283, and the value of the cleared site is estimated at £250,000.

Photo of Mr Richard Stokes Mr Richard Stokes , Ipswich

Does not this make nonsense of the statement by the Minister last week? Does he not realise that £250,000 is clearly not included in the rateable value? Surely, if that is so—if I am right in my statement, and I believe that I am—the figure of £50,000 which he mentioned last week for compensation in order not to pull down St. James's Theatre pales into insignificance.

Photo of Mr Henry Brooke Mr Henry Brooke , Hampstead

I think it is seldom that one finds that the rateable value exceeds the value of a site in Central London; but I simply informed the House that, if the planning permission granted in 1954 were revoked, I estimated that the compensation from public funds would be upwards of £50,000.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Robinson Mr Kenneth Robinson , St Pancras North

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that someone has written to The Times offering to start a subscription fund to reach the figure of £50,000 if he will revoke the planning permission?

Photo of Mr Henry Brooke Mr Henry Brooke , Hampstead

I also read another letter in The Times describing how hard it was to run an uneconomic theatre.

Photo of Mr Richard Stokes Mr Richard Stokes , Ipswich

May I ask the Minister whether he will now indulge in a little mental arithmetic and assess what would be the 20-year purchase at the rateable value? If he does so, he will find that it is £70,000, whereas the value of the site is £250,000. Therefore, it would be to the national advantage to pay £70,000 in order to acquire it, thereby giving the people an asset value of £250,000.

Photo of Mr Henry Brooke Mr Henry Brooke , Hampstead

That is as it may be, but the Socialist-controlled London County Council did not think so.

Photo of Mr Richard Stokes Mr Richard Stokes , Ipswich

That is no answer for the Tory Government continuing—

Photo of Mr William Morrison Mr William Morrison , Cirencester and Tewkesbury

Order. The right hon. Gentleman is making a statement. This is Question Time.

Photo of Mr Richard Stokes Mr Richard Stokes , Ipswich

May I ask the Minister, through you, Mr. Speaker, whether he really thinks that is an excuse for the Tory Government continuing to sin against the light?

Photo of Mr Henry Brooke Mr Henry Brooke , Hampstead

I have nothing to add to my last rather conclusive reply.