§ Mr. MORRELLasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he was aware that the Middlesex County Council were proposing to pay £60 per acre for land at Ickenham, which 12 months ago they could have bought for £50 an acre; and whether the Board would make inquiries into the matter?
§ The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Sir Edward Strachey)The land to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers is glebe, and an offer to purchase it at £57 8s. 11d. per acre has been made by a private individual. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are prepared to approve the sale at this price unless a higher one is offered by the county council, and the matter is now under their consideration. The county council are not aware that the land could have been purchased for £50 an acre.
§ Mr. BYLESIs it the experience of the Department that the Small Holdings Act is sending up the price of land?
Sir FREDERICK DIXON-HART-LANDIs the hon. Baronet aware that the valuation has been altered by the Middlesex County Council, and that unless they can prove—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now giving information, and not seeking it.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any complaints had been received by the Board respecting the delay in obtaining land for small holdings at Ickenham, Hayes, and elsewhere, in the county of Middlesex; and what steps the Board were taking?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNegotiations are in progress for the acquisition of land at Ickenham, Hayes, and elsewhere in Middle-Sex, and, so far as we are aware, there has not been any avoidable delay in the matter nor have we received any complaints from the parishes to which my hon. Friend refers.