§ 30. Dr. MCDONALDasked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to accelerate land settlement for sailors and soldiers; if he has studied and adopted any of the schemes submitted to the Government relating to this need; and if he will take the earliest opportunity to enable local committees to fulfil their urgent obligations in this direction?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)All possible steps are being taken by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and by county councils to acquire, equip and adapt land for ex-Service men. The Board have approved schemes in nearly every county in England and Wales. For particulars of the area of land acquired and the number of ex-Service men settled, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Rothwell.
§ Dr. MACDONALDWill the hon. Gentleman state what measures are being taken now in this direction?
§ Brigadier-General Sir O. THOMASIs it not a fact that such a high price is being paid for land for the settlement of those men that they will not be able to live on it?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo, Sir. The increase in the price of land has been on the whole very small having regard to the increase of other commodities. Under the terms of the Land Settlement Act the deficits on the holdings fall not on the smallholders but on the State.
§ Sir O. THOMASIs it not a fact that prices are about 50 per cent, higher than the pre-war prices?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWhat is the price of coal?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI may say that the average price for land paid for settlement to-day as compared with before the War has only increased by about £8 an acre.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask what steps an ex-Service man has to take if he requires a small holding?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs not £8; an acre an increase of 20 per cent.