§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary whether he will state what, prior to purchase, was the total gross and net rental and total assessment for rating purposes of the 3,686 acres which have been acquired compulsorily for small holdings after valuation by the official valuers?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYAs a great deal of the land acquired compulsorily was not separately assessed for rating purposes, I have no means of obtaining the information asked for.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODDid the valuers when making the valuation get hold of the rateable assessment? Is the hon. Baronet aware that in the schedule of the Small Holdings Act there are particular instructions to the valuers that they are to take rateable value into account in fixing the purchase price?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe whole of the circumstances have to be considered.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODWill the hon. Baronet inquire how these valuers can live up to the schedule of the Act and up to the principles and instructions laid down in the schedule unless they find out what the rateable value is?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI think the only answer I should get would be that they are complying with the Act.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked what has been the sum total of fees paid to valuers in connection with the purchase of the 3,686 acres for £123,272 acquired compulsorily for small holdings, and to how many different firms of valuers these fees have been paid?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYFees amounting to £1,100 have been paid to nineteen different arbitrators.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODWould it not be cheaper to employ one man under the Government?
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked whether the two present small holdings 1024 commissioners, Messrs. Cheney and Baines, after having between them the whole of England and Wales as their sphere of work, will henceforward have one-eighth only of this area; and whether it is proposed to reduce their present salaries and prospective pensions to conform with those of the six new commissioners?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe details of the allocation of the work among the several commissioners are not yet settled by the President, therefore I am not in a position to make any statement at the present moment on the subject. It is not proposed to reduce the present salaries and prospective pensions of Messrs. Cheney and Baines.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked how many persons had applied for small holdings or allotments in the county of Glamorgan; the area of land acquired for these purposes; and the number of applicants for whom holdings or allotments had been provided?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYFour hundred and eighty persons have applied, 1,222 acres have been acquired, twenty-three applicants have been supplied with land direct, and thirteen have been provided for through the Barry Small Holdings Association.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEHave any steps been taken to accelerate the pace with which land can be acquired for the remaining applicants?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYMy hon. Friend may rest assured we shall do all we can.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTAre any of these applicants agricultural labourers?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI do not think that arises out of the question.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask if there is any limit to the quantity of land which can be given to an applicant, and whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that in a recent case in Aberdare the bulk of the land acquired was given for a grazing farm?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe limit under the Act is fifty acres.