§ 43. Mr. Shortasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the arbiter has given his award in connection with the claim for £20,923 in respect of the acquisition by the Air Ministry of 404 acres of land for the Finningley Royal Air Force aerodrome, near Doncaster; if so, what the award was; and what was the previous net rateable value of the property in question?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadThe arbitrator's award was £11,584. The property was wholly agricultural and derated except for one set of small farm buildings the previous rateable value of which is not known.
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsWill my hon. and gallant Friend circulate a White Paper explaining to hon. Members opposite that all agricultural land is derated?
§ Mr. T. WilliamsMay I ask the relevant question whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any idea of the ordinary cost of similar land to be used for agricultural purposes?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI cannot state that as a general principle, but in this instance, the average cost of the land works out at £29 an acre, which is not on the whole excessive.