SMALL HOLDINGS AND ALLOTMENTS. (Hansard, 4 April 1927)

§ 39. Mr. HURD
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state what counties have so far taken action under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, and with what result?

§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)
The only action of which I have cognisance is the submission of proposals and estimates under Section 2 of the Act. The county councils of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Shrop shire, the East Riding of Yorkshire and the Holland Division of Lincolnshire have submitted in all seven schemes, of which one has been approved and six are still under consideration.

§ Mr. HURD
Arising out of those facts, can the right hon. Gentleman see any further step that he himself as Minister can take?

§ Mr. GUINNESS
I do not think so. Most county councils only hold their meetings in January and April, and in very few cases have they had the time to get their schemes into such a state as to be able to approach the Minister with them.

Captain CROOKSHANK
Is it not a fact that several county councils, like the Lindsey County Council, are considering schemes themselves for submission?

§ Mr. GUINNESS
Yes, I have no doubt they are.

§ 40. Mr. HURD
asked the Minister of Agriculture in what way the full fair rent of a holding is computed under the pur- 1677 chase terms of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926; by how much is the annual charge in respect of the purchase of a holding for 60 years less than that for one, say, of 50 years; what would be the annual payments on a given purchase for 60 and 50 years, respectively; and how are these figures arrived at?

§ Mr. GUINNESS
The expression "full fair rent" is defined in Sub-section (6) of Section 2 of the Act, and for the purposes of a sale any question as to what is a full fair rent is to be determined by the county council in accordance with Sub-section (5) of Section 5. The difference between an annuity payable for 60 years and one of equivalent capital value payable for a shorter period would depend on the rate of interest, but assuming the rate to be 5 per cent. and the full fair rent £50 a year, the equivalent annuity payable half-yearly for 50 years would be £51 16s.