HC Deb 22 July 1919 vol 118 cc1196-7

The powers conferred upon a tenant for life by the Settled Land Acts, 1882 to 1890, shall include the following further power:

A power at any time, or times, to make a grant or grants of any part or parts of the settled land in fee simple or absolutely, or a lease or leases for any term of years without any consideration, or at a nominal price annuity or rent, or at less than the best price annuity or rent that can reasonably be obtained for the purpose of the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, 1908 to 1919, and any such grant as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a sale within the meaning of the said Settled Land Acts. Provided that except under an order of the Court no more than two acres altogether in any one period shall be granted or leased under this power for the purpose of the said Small Holdings and Allotment Acts or under the similar power conferred by the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, for the purpose of the erection of dwellings for the working classes or the provision of gardens to be held in connection therewith or for all of such purposes together without payment of the full-price annuity or rent for any land granted or leased in excess of such quantity.—[Major Lane-Fox.]

Brought up, and read the first time

Major LANE-FOX

I beg to move That the Clause be read a second time. The object of the Clause is not particularly controversial. The Settled Land Act only allows an owner of land if he wishes to permit any of his land to be employed for the purpose of small holdings gardens, or other purposes.

Sir E. POLLOCK

We are prepared to accept this Clause, but I think there is a mistake in it. The word "period" is not the right word; it should be "parish." If my hon. Friend will move it in that correct form, then it can be accepted, subject to this, that it provides for not more than two acres; and it may be necessary in another place to make the provision two acres in an urban area and possibly to enlarge the acreage in a rural area. That has been done in a previous Act, and I think, on consideration, it may be necessary to amend it in that form.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause accordingly read a second time.

Major LANE-FOX

I am much obliged to the Government for accepting the Clause. As regards the enlargement of the acreage allowed, I should be very glad if that is possible. It was due to the modesty of our proposal that we limited it to the two acres. I beg to move to leave out the word "period" ["any one period"], and to insert instead thereof the word "parish,"

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.