§ 90. Sir SAMUEL SCOTTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture the number of acres of agricultural land or grass owned by the Government in Great Britain and Ireland, and in occupation of tenants; and what is the average rent charged per acre?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)The total acreage of agricultural land in Great Britain and Ireland under the management of the Commissioners of Woods and in occupation of tenants is 130,795 acres. This includes between 30,000 and 40,000 acres of moorland in Scotland let for sheep grazing at 3s. per acre, and several thousand acres of down land in Sussex and Wiltshire let for very little more. The average rent of ordinary farm land is about 25s. per acre. The agricultural land, other than Crown land, owned by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, is 136 acres let at 31s. 7d. per acre, and 63 acres let at 41s. 3d. per acre.
The total area of land owned by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland and in the occupation of tenants is 63,405 acres, of which 5,637 acres are arable land, 4,151 1093 acres grazing in individual occupation, and 53,617 acres common grazings. The average rent of the whole area is 1s. 3½d. per acre, but this cannot be taken as an indication of the value of the arable and grass land since a very large proportion of the area consists of mountain and heath.
For particulars as to land in Ireland acquired by the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, or owned by other Departments, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Irish Office, as the information I have so far been able to obtain is not complete.
§ Sir S. SCOTTWill any of this land be settled on returned soldiers?
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is a large amount of land in the Congested District Board's possession in Ireland, and will any of that be given to returned soldiers?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIreland does not come under this Department.