§ 60. Mr. RILEYasked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of the Government's commitments to county councils under the Small Holdings Act of 1926, from the passing of the Act to date; and the numher of schemes and individual holdings covered by the commitments?
Mr. GUINNESSThe amount of the annual contributions promised by the Ministry in respect of schemes which have been submitted under Section 2 of the Act of 1926, and have been approved, is £3,031. Of this sum £2,425 is in respect of 35 fresh acquisitions comprising 194 holdings, and £606 is in respect of 43 schemes for the further equipment of 51 existing holdings.
Mr. GUINNESSWe never expected that a good immediate result would be obtained, and from the reports of meetings of small holdings committees it appears that these committees are waiting to see the result of the valuations and how they are left financially before deciding as to any increase in their commitments.