HC Deb 26 June 1925 vol 185 cc1919-20

Where land is purchased or leased by a local authority under the Allotments Acts, 1908 to 1922, or this Act, the local authority shall record the purchase price or rent agreed to be paid for the land, and the gross value, or gross estimated rental at which the land is assessed for rating purposes at the date of its acquisition, where it is separately so assessed, or an apportioned estimate when it is not so separately so assessed, and the particulars so recorded shall be included by each local authority in their annual report to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries under Section fifty-nine of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908.—[Col. Wedgwood.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

I need not waste any time in moving this Clause, because the Government are accepting it. I thank them for taking into consideration a point of view which was raised in Committee. The object of the Clause is simply that we may have particulars of the price paid for land where it is purchased and the value at which it was assessed for rates.

Mr. HURD

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the making of this return is going to increase and complicate the machinery?

Mr. WOOD

It is rather difficult to satisfy the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) and my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) all at once, but I think I can assure my hon. Friend that this is not going to have the complicated effect that it appears. The information here laid down will, I am advised, be quite easy of

inclusion by the local authorities concerned in the reports that they furnish in the ordinary course to the Minister, so as to be available to anybody who wishes to consult the returns. I have not had full opportunity of coming to a final decision on the point, but the words "or an apportioned estimate" may possibly require further consideration and perhaps amendment in another place. That, however, is a minor point, and so far as I can I am willing to meet the wishes of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will consult with me on the point?

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.