§ 29. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will explain why he has refused his consent to the Lancashire County Council to purchase four farmhouses and buildings and 283 acres of land which they required for the establishment of cottage and smallholdings; and will he state in what particular the proposed purchase differs from other transactions conducted by the Lancashire Smallholding Committee?
Mr. GUINNESSI have not refused consent to the purchase of the property to which the hon. Member refers. The position is that the price proposed to be paid by the council is considerably in excess of the value placed on the property for smallholdings purposes by the Ministry's professional advisers, and the council have accordingly been asked to try to negotiate the purchase at a lower figure.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that the price proposals were on the basis of values calculated by the right hon. Gentleman's own Department?
Mr. GUINNESSNo; what is a reasonable price in our view is considerably lower than that which has been put * forward by the local authorities, and I feel bound under the Act to see that this land is not acquired at any figure above, what is reasonable.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand from that answer that the proposal is not definitely turned down, and that if a suitable price can be arranged, this proposal can be proceeded with?