§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state which are the county councils which have purchased small holdings and not charged the instalments of purchase price and improvements upon the small holder as an addition to his rent: and can the Board take any steps to induce other county councils to adopt this course instead of making the tenant pay for land of which the council becomes and remains owner?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)The county councils of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Glamorganshire, and Cardiganshire 195 have bought land and let it in small holdings at rents which do not include sinking fund charges in respect of the purchase money. The West Riding also, in fixing the rents for small holdings, excluded any charge in respect of the replacement of money borrowed and spent on improvements. As I said yesterday, the subject is receiving my careful attention.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODIn view of the fact that the vast majority of county councils at present are getting land and making other people pay for it, cannot the Board of Agriculture send round a circular giving the information as to these three county councils who have paid for land themselves; because I think it is not generally known?