§ 101. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked whether the Government have contracted with any of the vendors of land in Wiltshire required for the purposes of their new flying ground not to charge him Increment Value Duty in consequence of the sale of such land to the Government at a profit of £20,000; and, if so, what is the reason for the exoneration of such vendor from a tax imposed by the Government upon other citizens?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERNo such contract was made.
§ 102. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked what was the price per acre paid, respectively, by the War Office to Lord St. Aldwyn for his property at Netheravon and Fittleton, in the county of Wilts, and more recently by the same Government Department for their flying ground, to St. Katherine's Hospital, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and Mr. Maton for their respective estates in parishes adjoining the above; and whether the first-mentiond proprty included less hill land and more buildings than either of the other three estates?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERThe prices per acre were approximately as follows:—
| £ | s. | ||
| Lord St. Alwyn | … | 12 | 0 |
| Mr. Maton | … | 26 | 10 |
| Ecclesiastical Commissioners | … | 13 | 10 |
| St. Katherine's Hospital | … | 15 | 10 |
§ The first-mentioned property included a greater proportion of buildings, including cottages, than the other estates. The proportion of arable to grass land were as follows: Lord St. Alwyn, 4,302 acres arable to 3,516 acres grass; Mr. Maton, rather 2131 more than half arable; Ecclesiastical Commissioners, mostly arable; St. Katherine's Hospital, about half arable.
§ Mr. BATHURSTWill the hon. Gentleman admit that the statement made as regards Lord St. Aldwyn's land before the Marconi Committee to the effect that he was overpaid is not justified on those figures?
§ Mr. BAKERThe hon. Member realises that the lands are different lands, and that there may be a great difference in price.
§ Mr. KINGDo not these figures show that the Liberal Government is far more generous to the landlords than the Conservatives?