HC Deb 25 April 1918 vol 105 cc1122-3
62. Mr. RENDALL

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether all the tenants on the Berkeley estate, Gloucester, of 23,000 acres, have received notice to quit accompanied by a letter asking each farmer whether, in the event of his farm not being sold, he is willing to sign a now agreement to pay a 40 to 60 per cent. increase of rent; whether he realises that such action has caused unrest over a large district and will discourage farmers from whole-heartedly working to increase the national food supply at a moment when their efforts are of greatest value; and does he propose to intervene in the national interest?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Prothero)

The, Board understand that notices to quit have been served as stated. The accompanying letter asks whether those tenants who retain their holdings are willing to revert to the old rents which prevailed before the existing rents were reduced to their present level in order to meet the low prices of twenty-five years ago. The Board have no power to intervene, and they are not satisfied that, in the interests of food production, special legislation is necessary.

Mr. RENDALL

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the state of unrest which must be caused when tenants farming 23,000 acres are given notice to quit? Does he intend to do nothing at all?

Mr. PROTHERO

The position is really this: In the letter Lord Berkeley states that, owing to his accession to the estate, and the amount of Death Duties and other Government taxation he has to pay, some portions of the estate must be told. He offers those tenants who do not come under the sale the terms that they shall continue as the rent which prevailed before the extremely low prices of a quarter of a century ago. I do not understand why the tenants should not be willing to accept that offer.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

Could the right hon. Gentleman see his way to introduce legislation applying to rich landlords the same principles as the Bill yesterday applied to small landlords'?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must give notice of that.

Mr. RENDALL

I beg to give notice that, owing to the very unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's answer. I will call attention to the question next Tuesday.