§ Mr. ERNEST JARDINEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, with reference to agricultural banks if any one of the French societies lent to those who had no agricultural land, but desired it, the whole of the purchase money with which to buy it, or only a portion of such purchase money, and, if so what such portion was; was such society state-aided, and, if so, to what extent; and, what was the rate of interest charged to the borrowers?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYAny person who wishes to borrow money from a French Credit Society in order to purchase land must be a shareholder in the bank, and no person can be admitted as a shareholder unless he is a member of the local Syndicat Agricole or of a Societe d'assurances mutuelles Agricole. It is very rarely that anyone who is not already the owner of land fulfils these conditions. The loan may not exceed 8,000 francs. The French Credit Societies are not State-aided. The rate of interest is 2 per cent.
§ Mr. E. JARDINEWill the hon. Baronet urge upon the Government the necessity of giving the English peasant the same chance of improving his position as the French peasant enjoys?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Government have already done a great deal in that direction by their Small Holdings Act.
§ Mr. E. JARDINEWill the hon. Baronet urge them to do very much more?
Sir GILBERT PARKERWill the Government take into consideration the granting of a return showing the chief agricultural or land banks in the different countries, and the terms on which their loans are granted?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI will consider the advisability of issuing such a Return.