HC Deb 01 March 1911 vol 22 cc370-1
Mr. SANDERS

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that by the present regulations of the Board any money received by county councils as proceeds on the sale of timber on small holdings must, if possible, be devoted to paying off debt, and that where permanent improvements are required fresh money must be borrowed for the purpose; and whether he can see his way to allowing the money received under such circumstances to be devoted to permanent improvements on the holdings?

Mr. BURNS

I am aware that the Board have expressed the view that such proceeds should preferably be applied in the reduction of the loan raised for the purchase of land, but that where this is not practicable the proceeds should be carried to the credit of the capital account of the particular scheme in respect of which they arise, and I consider that in principle this is right. At the same time, in the case of the allotments at Chew Magna, which perhaps the hon. Member has in mind, I offered no objection to the proposal of the Somerset County Council to apply the proceeds directly to works of adaptation under Section 8 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908.

Mr. SANDERS

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us some really definite rule upon the subject, so that we may know exactly what money we may devote to improvements?

Mr. BURNS

It is very difficult to lay down a general rule in the varying circumstances and the different conditions. We are doing our best.