§ 30. Brig.-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture how much of the £15,000,000 capital expenditure for providing ex-servece men and others with small holdings was spent on purchase of land and haw much for equipment of land?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Edward Wood)£9,600,000 has been expended on the purchase of land and £5,400,000 on equipment.
§ 31. Lieut.-Colonel WINDSOR-CLIVEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the uncertainty now prevailing among smallholders regarding the continuance of the present rebates on rent, he will consider the advisability of arranging for the rent of a small holding to be fixed at such a figure as will give the tenant a reasonable chance of making a living from his holding?
§ Mr. WOODThe rents of small holdings provided under the Land Settlement Scheme have recently been revised in nearly every county. In the case of Shropshire, however, the Small Holdings Sub-Committee has, until now, continued to make temporary abatements, as it has been impossible to arrange for the inspection of the holdings owing to foot-and-mouth disease. A revaluation is now being carried out with a view to permanent reductions in rent being granted where necessary as from the half-year which ended Lady Day, 1925.
§ Sir ROBERT THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman, in further considering this very important matter, examine the great losses which these smallholders have sustained in running their small holdings, before he decides what reduction is to be made in the future?
§ Mr. WOODOf course, that, with other relevant facts, is always present in the minds of those who advise me about the question of revaluation.