55. Captain COOTEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the moneys voted by Parliament for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Land Settlement Act are about to be exhausted; that many county councils have already expended the sums allotted to them; that this means that it has cost £20,000,000 to put about 9,000 men on the land; whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to ask Parliament to vote further sums for this purpose; and, if so, whether he can give any guarantee that such sums will be more economically expended?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Sir A Boscawen)It is not correct to say that the moneys voted by Parliament for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Land Settlement Act are about to be exhausted, or that it has cost £20,000,000 to put about 9,000 men on the land. The land already acquired, 23 namely, 259,489 acres, will have cost, when fully equipped, about £15,000,000 for purchase, buildings, roads, water supply, etc., and some 17,200 men will be settled on this area. The present position of Land Settlement in England and Wales has recently been thoroughly investigated by a Cabinet Committee, and a letter is about to be addressed by the Ministry to each county council embodying the decisions which have been reached, and inter alia, stating that additional funds will be provided by the Treasury for Land Settlement purposes.