HC Deb 08 February 1926 vol 191 cc623-4
43. The Marquess of TITCHFIELD

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of money involved in the relief given to the agricultural industry by the subsidy to the sugar-beet industry, the subsidy for rural housing, out of rates and any other methods of relief, respectively.

Mr. GUINNESS

As the reply is necessarily long, I propose, with my Noble Friend's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The gross subsidy paid to the British sugar-beet industry in 1924 –25 was £509,200. In the present financial year the gross subsidy is estimated at £1,250,000, and in 1926–27 will probably be £2,500,000.

It is not practicable to make any estimate of the extent (if any) to which housing subsidies may be regarded as relief to the agricultural industry. Under the various Government-assisted housing schemes, 89,574 houses have been erected in rural districts, though it is not possible to state how many of these houses are occupied by agricultural workers. Provision is made in the Housing Act, 1924, for a special subsidy in respect of houses in agricultural areas, the Exchequer subsidy being £12 10s. a year for 40 years (capitalised value £220) as compared with £9 for 40 years in other districts. Schemes for the erection with the aid or the special subsidy of houses, in agricultural parishes have been approved for 153 local authorities. The number of houses in these schemes is approximately 4,500.

All agricultural land is England and Wales is now exempt from three-quarters of the local rates, and by the Rating and Valuation Act of last Session this exemption is to be extended to agricultural buildings.

The amount of the Exchequer grants under the Agricultural Rates Acts. 1896 and 1923, is £4,280,000 for England and Wales. In addition, the occupiers of agricultural land, in common with other ratepayers, benefit from the other grants, amounting to about £67,290,000 annually, made to local authorities in aid of the cost of education, highways, police and other services (except housing), in England and Wales.