25. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, owing to the assistance of the Land Valuation Department, acting upon the information obtained by means of the Finance Act, 1909–10, and from other sources, local authorities up to the end of January had effected a saving of £876,679, or an average of £72 per acre, on their purchases of land for housing schemes; and, in view of this considerable saving to the public purse, will the Government sanction similar assistance being given by district valuers to local authorities in their purchases of land for tuberculosis hospitals, sanatoria, and other purposes where, as in the case of houses for the working classes and land settlement schemes, considerable proportions of both capital and annual charges are borne by the Treasury?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin)My attention 2364 has been called to the figures quoted As regards the last part of the question, I cannot add anything to the reply I gave to the question asked by the bon. Member on the 3rd instant.
Mr. THOMSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this will involve little extra expense to the National Exchequer, while its refusal will throw an extra burden on local authorities? Will he reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe fact is that the work being done by the Valuation Department, even in this restricted measure, involves as great a burden as it can bear, and any increase of work in the direction desired would mean a considerable increase of the expense. It therefore requires very careful consideration.
Mr. THOMSONBut would not a saving at the rate of £70 per acre compensate for any extra cost to the Department?