§ 10. Mr. STANIERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the tenants in the West Riding of small holdings acquired by the county council under 1308 the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, are paying the sinking fund on the land purchased under the Act by the council, and, if so, what is the amount per cent. being paid by them as sinking fund in respect of each loan granted to the council for the purchase of land; and what is the amount per cent. being paid as sinking fund by the council and to whom is it paid in respect of each such loan?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)The rents of small holdings created by the West Riding County Council are sufficient to meet the interest and sinking fund charges on the capital outlay of the council. The amount of the sinking fund for loans for the purchase of land is 4s. 8d. per £100, and this amount is included in the tenants' rents, and is paid by the county council to the Public Works Loan Commissioners, from whom the loans are borrowed.
§ 11. Mr. STANIERasked whether tenants of small holdings acquired by county councils under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, are still to be required to pay in their rents the sinking fund for repayment of capital expended on buildings and any other equipment of their holdings?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer is in the affirmative. Buildings and other works of equipment are wasting securities and there is no hardship on the tenants in having to pay a sinking fund charge based on the probable life of the work.
§ 12. Mr. STANIERasked whether those tenants of small holdings under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, who up to date have paid in their rents any portion of the sinking fund in respect of land purchased by the county councils will be refunded such portion; and, if so, whether by the county councils or by the Government?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.