§ 34. Mr. ROYDSasked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many small holdings existed in England and Wales at 31st December, 1907, and 31st December, 1912, respectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board's Returns are collected in June, and I cannot therefore give exactly the information for which the hon. Member asks. The number of holdings above one acre and not exceeding fifty acres as returned on the 4th June, 1907, was 289,093, and on the 4th June, 1912, 292,720.
§ 39. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the total acreage of the 10,192 small holdings established up to the 31st December, 1912, in England and Wales?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANOne hundred and thirty-two thousand six hundred and one acres.
§ 41. Mr. PRETYMANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Norfolk County Council and the Isle of Ely County Council were permitted by the Board of Agriculture to bid against each other for five lots of property at a sale at Wisbech on Saturday, 21st June; why the Norfolk County Council were allowed to give a higher price than that sanctioned by the Board for the Isle of Ely for land situated in the latter county, the result being that Norfolk purchased all and the Isle of Ely none; whether the result of permitting two counties to come into competition was that the land fetched over £80 per acre, thus making the rent for prospective small holders almost prohibitive; and whether steps will be taken to see that such proceedings are not sanctioned in the future?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Norfolk County Council purchased the land in question on their own responsibility without consulting the Board. I am informed that the competition of the two county councils in the case under notice did not materially, if at all, enhance the price, but such competition is to be deprecated, and the Board will do everything in their power to prevent it in future?
§ Mr. PRETYMANIs it not either the Law or a Regulation having the effect of Law that no county council should buy any land without prior sanction of the Board as to the amount?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI could not give offhand an interpretation of the law, but I can state approximately what I think the hon. Gentleman wishes to know. No county council can get the benefit of the Small Holdings Act for the purchase or financing of land without the consent of the Board of Agriculture.
§ Mr. PRETYMANWas this consent obtained by the Norfolk County Council in this case?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIn this case they acted entirely on their own responsibility without consulting the Board of Agriculture.
§ Mr. PRETYMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the local Commissioner was verbally informed by the Norfolk County Council——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman cannot be expected to deal with details of that sort without notice.