§ 65. Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what was the price paid for the four acres of land acquired by the Bedwellty Urban District Council for the erection of houses under the provisions of Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, and in respect of which the Local Government Board sanctioned a loan of £850; and what, prior to acquisition, was the total gross and net rental and the total assessment of this land to local rates, or, if this land formed 1949 a portion of a large property, by how much the assessment of that larger property to local rates was reduced by reason of the severance of that portion?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe price paid for the 4 acres of land was £800. The land formed part of a farm of 50 acres, which, together with the farm buildings, was assessed at £28, and I am informed that the assessment of the 4 acres was approximately £2.
§ 66 and 68. Mr. EDGAR JONESasked(1) with respect to the land acquired by lease in Great Harwood, Aberdare, Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydvil, and Risca, for the erection of houses under Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, what, prior to acquisition, was the total gross and net rental and the total assessment to local rates to the land so acquired, or, if the land in any case formed a portion of a larger property, by how much the assessment of that larger property to local rates was reduced by reason of the severance of that portion; (2) what, prior to the acquisition for a housing scheme under the provisions of Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, was the total gross and net rental and the total assessment to local rates of the 5 acres 2 roods 13 perches of land acquired by the Risca Urban District Council, at a lease of ninety-nine years at a peppercorn rent for one and a-half years, thereafter at £124 17s. per annum, or, if this land formed a portion of a larger property, by how much the assessment of that larger property to the local rates was reduced by reason of the severance of that portion?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAs regards Great Harwood, Aberdare, Abertillery, and Merthyr Tydvil, I am informed that in each case the land acquired by the local authority on lease formed part of a larger area, and that no reduction in the assessment of that area has been made in consequence of the severance of the part referred to, except in the case of Great Harwood, where the reduction was £1 15s. As regards Ebbw Vale, I am informed that the clerk to the local authority cannot trace that the land acquired was rated. As regards Risca, I understand that the rental of the area of 5 acres 2 roods 13 perches was £10, and that the assessment to local rate was based on the valuation of £9 10s., but the information furnished to me in regard to other leases by this local 1950 authority is not sufficiently definite to enable me to reply to my hon. Friend's question.
§ 67. Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the I President of the Local Government Board what was the price paid for the 8 acres 1 rood and 17 perches of land acquired by the Abersychan Urban District Council for the erection of houses under the provisions of Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, and in respect of which the Local Government Board, sanctioned a loan of £2,911; and what,, prior to acquisition, was the total gross and net rental and the total assessment of this land to local rates, or, if this land formed a portion of a larger property, by how much the assessment of that larger property to local rates was reduced by reason of the severance of that portion?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe land is made up of three sites. The price paid for the first was £1,109. It was part of a larger property, and the amount by which, the assessment was reduced by reason of the severance was £4. The price of the second site was £797, the gross rental £10, the rateable value £9 10s., and the rates-per annum £1 9s. 7d. In the third case, the price paid was £800, the gross rental £7, the rateable value £6 10s., and the-rates per annum £1 0s. 2d.