§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware that in cases where a county council provide substantially built brick or stone dwelling houses as part of the equipment of a small holding, and the rent charged to the small holder is fixed at such a sum as will cover the principal and interest on the loan raised to provide the buildings, the fact that such a loan must be repaid within fifty years renders the amount to be paid by the small holder so high as to place an unfair burden upon him and becomes a serious hindrance to the satisfactory, administration of the Small Holdings Act; whether he will introduce legislation to amend The Small Hold-Lags Act, 1908, in such a way that loans for the erection of new buildings may be spread over the same period as loans for the purchase of land; and (2) whether the Board of Agriculture have agreed with the Local Government Board that the period allowed for the repayment of a loan for the provision of a well in connection with the erection of a new dwelling-house on a small holding shall not exceed thirty years, notwithstanding the fact that fifty years is allowed for the repayment of loans for new buildings, and that the durability of the well will continue as long as that of the dwelling-house; and, if so, why a shorter period is allowed in the case of the well than in the case of the dwelling-house, without which the dwelling-house is practically useless?
§ Mr. BURNSMy hon. Friend has asked me to reply to these questions. I am aware that 50 years is the maximum term allowed for repayment of loans for the provision of buildings, under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, and, looking to the character of the buildings usually provided, I am unable to take the view that this period is too short. The period for the repayment of a loan in respect of the provision of a well in connection with the erection of a new dwelling-house is correctly stated in the question, and, when the risks to which the useful life of a well as a source of domestic supply is exposed are considered, I cannot agree that that period is inadequate.
An HON. MEMBERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in addition to the interest and the sinking fund on the loan on buildings a considerable sum is charged for annual repairs on the tenant as well?
§ Mr. BURNSI am aware of the fact, but in the last two years the Local Government Board has sanctioned nearly £2,000,000 of loans under the Small Holdings Act for land and buildings, and there have not been any questions of injustice to those concerned.
§ Mr. RENDALLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will be prepared to receive a deputation from the Small Holdings Committee of the County Council?
§ Mr. BURNSI am always prepared to receive deputations on any subject when any useful purpose is to be served by so doing.