§ 37. Mr. ROYCEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the tenants in the soldier colony on Crown land in HolbeachMarsh, Lincolnshire, are being required to pay during the first year of tenancy a rent, exclusive of cottage and outbuildings, amounting to £3 17s. 9d. per acre, and buildings included, £5 7s. per acre; whether he is also aware that the former farmer tenants paid less than 30s. per acre for the same land, including buildings; and whether, in order that the soldier tenants may be able to farm the land successfully, he will consider the desirability of reducing the rents?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)The hon. Member's figures are not quite accurate. On the Holbeach Colony land suitable for market gardening and fruit growing is let on a basis of 50s. per acre for the land alone. The cottages, which are of recent construction, and contain three bedrooms, are let at £10 a year. The additional buildings which are to be erected will be charged for at a rate of £5 a year.
The total rent for the fully-equipped 5-acre holding would work out at £5 10s. per acre, but if the small-holder takes up 863 the further 5 acres of adjoining land for which provision is made, the rent would then work out to £4 per acre.
The pre-war rent of 31s. per acre when let in large farms to tenants of very old standing cannot be taken as any criterion of its present value when divided into small holdings. Small plots of this land, which is some of the best in England, would probably sell at £80 to £100 per acre. The tenants serve as probationers on the estate before taking up their holdings, and have full opportunity of ascertaining the conditions before they enter upon a tenancy. There is an abundance of applications from ex-Service men, previously resident in the district, who are willing to take these holdings at the rent fixed.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the rateable assessment has been raised from 30s. £5 7s. per acre in order to get people to use small holdings?
Sir A. BOSCAWENWe are letting the holdings at a price that shows no profit whatever to the Board of Agriculture. In addition to houses and buildings there are other things that have to be done in connection with small holdings, such as road making, fencing, and so forth. We are letting these holdings at the lowest possible rent without making a loss. I do not think we can do more than that.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI asked whether the rateable assessment has been raised so that in addition to these rents they have to pay the rates on the full rateable value up to £5 7s.?
§ Mr. ROYCEWill the hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that in addition the tenants are being charged £1 extra per acre for grass lands ploughed up seven years ago?