§ 35. Mr. LANE-FOXasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what cottages, if any, have been built by the Board or the Commissioners of Woods for agricultural labourers employed on the land under their control in the north of England during the past five years; what has been the average cost of them; whether they are let on economic rent; and, if not, what the economic rent would be?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)Twenty-four cottages have been built by the Commissioners of Woods for agricultural labourers employed on the land under their control in the north of England (the counties being Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire) since 1st January, 1907. The average cost of them has been £218, including drainage, water supply, fencing, carting and levelling, and, in some cases, bridge approaches, but excluding architect's fees. Each cottage includes three bedrooms, parlour, living room, scullery, larder, store and detached fuel house and earth closet. They are all let to farmers, parish councils or small holdings associations, who rent farms of the Crown. Twenty-one out of the twenty-four are let at economic rents equal to interest at from 4½ to 5 per cent. per annum, on the cost; two were erected without extra rent to replace worn-out cottages on the same farms, and one is let at a rent which is not economic.
§ Mr. LANE-FOXMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to state what is the economic rent which is being paid?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt is a rent equal to interest at from 4½ to 5 per cent. on the cost.
§ Colonel YATEMay I ask whether the 4½ or 5 per cent. covers not only the interest on the cost, but also the amount expended on repairs?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt covers the whole cost.
§ Mr. LANE-FOXMay I ask whether a cottage of this sort cannot be built under a cost of £200?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe have experience extending over a period of years, and the cost some years ago cannot be taken as the price at which cottages can be built to-day.