§ 34. Mr. HARDIEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that land skirting the new arterial road near Manchester is selling at £800 per acre; and will he give powers to local authorities to rate this betterment value in lieu of subsidies from the Government?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe local authorities already have power to increase the assessment to rates of any such land, if and in so far as that course is justified by an increase in the rental value.
§ Mr. HARDIEAre we to understand from that reply that if the owner of the land skirting the road raises the price above what it was before the road was made, the local authorities have power to raise the assessment?
§ Mr. HARDIEWhy has not the right hon. Gentleman replied to what I had in my question regarding the increased value of the land? Why does he always come back to the word "assessment" instead of dealing with the value which has been made by public expenditure?
§ Major PRICEHave the local authorities power to purchase any of the land on these arterial roads?
§ Mr. J. HUDSONWill the right hon. Gentleman give any information regarding the betterment taxes which may have been charged by this corporation? Has he any evidence of such taxation having been imposed?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINObviously, that is not a question which I can answer without notice, and it is not the question on the Paper.
§ Mr. B. SMITHWill the right hon. Gentleman consider in any future laying out of arterial roads that sufficient land on either side can be purchased, so that the betterment value can accrue to the State?
Mr. HOPKINSONIs it not a fact that when municipalities, such as Manchester, have bought land on the side of new roads, they have distinctly depreciated its value by putting up bad houses?
§ 59. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take the necessary steps to secure for the community the increased site values created by the new arterial roads built by public money as the result of public enterprise?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie) by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health on the 30th November.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of this growing scandal, and would it not be possible for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to inquire into the methods employed in our Dominions overseas to meet precisely the same thing?
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to consider the fact that many arterial roads are lowering the value of certain property and will he consider the question of compensation in those cases?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to which reference has been made was as follows:
If the hon. Member's question is to be interpreted as an inquiry whether the Government propose to introduce a Bill for the purpose of taxing site values, the answer is in the negative.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the Government consider making inquiries as to the methods adopted in our Dominions for meeting this growing scandal, which exists not only in this country but elsewhere, in regard to the increased site value brought about by the construction of these new roads?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that the last time he taxed site values we lost money on it?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs there not some legislation in existence in connection with one of the Transport Acts that permits the Minister or local authorities to acquire land bordering on arterial roads and so secure any increased value?