§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)To ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, how many of the tenancy holdings, included in the 250,000 acres owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, exceed 500 acres; how-many are between 100 and 500 acres; how many are between fifty and 100 acres; how many are between ten and fifty acres; how many are less than ten acres; and what provision do the Commissioners make for the extension of the system of small holdings.
§ (Answered by Mr. Charles Hobhouse.) The 250,000 acres comprise 2,952 holdings, the number of holdings in each of the suggested classes being as follows:—
§ who desire to aquire the freehold by allowing 85 per cent, of the purchase money to remain upon mortgage repayable by equal half-yearly instilments (including principal and interest) over a period of thirty-five years, the interest being at the rate of £3 10s. per cent. On these terms the instalments amount to £5 per cent, per annum on the unpaid portion of the purchase money. Upwards of 450 sales have been effected upon this system, mainly sales of agricultural holdings.