§ 66. Sir ARTHUR MARSHALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the assessable value of the agricultural land of Great Britain; what amount of rates was paid in respect of such land in the last year for which statistics are available by the occupiers: and what amount was paid in relief of rates on agricultural land by the Treasury and by the occupiers of rateable hereditaments, other than agricultural land, respectively?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe assessable value of agricultural land in April, 1922, was £12,907,000. There are no returns showing separately the amount of rates paid by the occupiers of such land; but it has been estimated, from the particulars available, that as regards rates, to which the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, applies, the occupiers of agricultural land now contribute at the rate of about £5,500,000 per annum. With respect to the last part of the question, I would refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Fulham on the 26th April. I may say, however, that the annual grant under the Act of 1896 amounts to £1,323,000. This reply refers to England and Wales. As regards Scotland, I would suggest that the hon. Member should address a question to the Scottish Office.