HC Deb 26 October 1908 vol 194 cc1595-6
MR. GOULDING (Worcester)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Government propose to pay the tenants who have to give up their holdings in the new area in Salisbury Plain any compensation for disturbance, as contemplated by the Agricultural Holdings Act (Amendment), 1906.

MR. HALDANE

I can assure the hon. Member that tenants who may have to give up their holdings owing to the proposal to acquire land for an artillery range on Salisbury Plain, will get the usual compensation for improvements to which they may be entitled under the Agricultural Holdings Act. With regard to compensation for disturbance I would point out that good and sufficient cause can be shown for terminating existing tenancies upon land which is needed for a national purpose.

MR. GOULDING

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many labourers are now employed on the farms to be acquired by the Government in the neighbourhood of Salisbury Plain; and what is the number of those aged sixty-five years and upwards.

MR. HALDANE

There are no statistics available to give the information required.

MR. GOULDING

But surely the right hon. Gentleman must realise the difficulty that labourers over sixty-five years of age will have in getting other employment? Is nothing to be done for them?

MR. HALDANE

I hope they will receive every consideration.