§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)To ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as representing the Church Estates Commissioners, whether the Commissioners own the whole or practically the whole land in any parishes; and, if so, what these parishes are, and what provision they make for small holdings in these parishes; and whether, if none is made, they can initiate or encourage the movement in such parishes.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) There are eighteen parishes in agricultural districts in which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners own three-fourths or more of the whole area. The schedule given below shows the names of these parishes, the extent of the Commissioners' lands in each and the holdings into which they are divided. As explained in my written Answer to the hon. Member's Question of the 13th inst,† the Commissioners have not adopted any system for facilitating the creation of small holdings, but they put no hindrance in the way of any such movement and in suitable cases facilitate the purchase by tenants of these holdings.
† See (4) Debates, clxiv, 1278.
| Schedule. | |||
| Name of Parish. | Area of Parish. | Area of Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Lands. | How Divided |
| Acres. | Acres. | ||
| Raskelf | 4,280 | 3,700 | 3,030 acres in 12 holdings exceeding 100 acres. |
| 450 acres in 11 holdings between 20 and 80 acres. | |||
| 70 acres in 26 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 80 acres in allotments and cottages. | |||
| 70 acres woodland in hand. | |||
| Leighton Bromswold | 3,060 | 2,990 | 2,845 acres in 6 holdings of over 190 acres. |
| 15 acres in 4 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 50 acres in allotments and cottages. | |||
| 80 acres woodland in hand. | |||
| Bishopstone | 3,385 | 2,898 | 2,806 acres in 3 holdings of over 500 acres. |
| 73 acres in 2 holdings between 10 and 50 acres. | |||
| 8 acres in 4 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 11 acres in allotments and cottages. | |||
| Marton in the Forest | 2,466 | 2,370 | 2,210 acres in 14 holdings of over 100 acres. |
| 160 acres in 3 holdings between 30 and 80 acres. | |||
| Horning | 2,600 | 2,370 | 2,210 acres in 4 holdings of over 150 acres. |
| 130 acres in 2 holdings between 50 and 100 acres. | |||
| 5 acres in 2 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 25 acres in allotments. | |||
| Scampton | 2,200 | 2,120 | 2,025 acres in 4 holdings of over 400 acres. |
| 27 acres in 5 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 68 acres in allotments, cow pastures, and cottages. | |||
| Pershore St. Andrew | 1,512 | 1,500 | 720 acres in 3 holdings of over 150 acres. |
| 275 acres in 11 holdings between 10 and 60 acres. | |||
| 105 acres in 36 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 175 acres in allotments, cottages, &c. | |||
| 225 acres woodland in hand. |
| Name of Parish. | Area of Parish. | Area of Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Lands. | How Divided |
| Acres. | Acres. | ||
| Colne Rogers | 1,574 | 1,455 | The whole in 4 holdings of over 100 acres. |
| Broxholme | 1,350 | 1,250 | 1,240 acres in 3 holdings of over 200 acres. |
| 10 acres in 1 holding. | |||
| Stratford sub Castle | 1,480 | 1,154 | 1,128 acres in 2 holdings of over 500 acres. |
| 26 acres in 13 holdings under 10 acres. | |||
| Archdeacon Newton | 1,040 | 1,040 | The whole in 4 farms of 190 acres and upwards. |
| Greetwell | 1,223 | 1,040 | 970 acres in 1 holding. |
| 70 acres damaged ground (ironstone workings). | |||
| Binegar | 1,159 | 1,010 | 706 acres in 3 holdings of over 100 acres. |
| 260 acres in 5 holdings between 10 and 50 acres. | |||
| 36 acres in 27 holdings under 10 acres. | |||
| 8 acres woodland and disused quarry in hand. | |||
| Ampney St. Mary | 1,288 | 988 | 1 holding together with land in adjoining parish. |
| Halloughton | 988 | 935 | 820 acres in 5 holdings of over 100 acres. |
| 50 acres in 1 holding. | |||
| 17 acres in 3 holdings between 1 and 10 acres. | |||
| 48 acres woodland in hand. | |||
| Asgarby | 792 | 792 | The whole in 3 holdings of over 150 acres. |
| Grenton | 826 | 788 | 787 acres in 3 holdings over 100 acres. |
| 1 acre in 3 cottage holdings. | |||
| Winnall | 531 | 502 | 385 acres in 1 holding. |
| 50 acres in 1 holding. | |||
| 35 acres in 2 holdings over 10 acres. | |||
| 32 acres in allotments. |