§ 76. Major Raynerasked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of the expenditure from the Exchequer on land settlement since the Armistice?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe total amount of the expenditure from the Exchequer on land settlement in England and Wales between the Armistice and the 31st December, 1936 (31st March, 1936, in the case of the Ministry's own estates) was approximately £15,707,000. To give a true picture of the comprehensive information which my hon. and gallant Friend desires, it is, I think, necessary to tabulate the expenditure under various headings, and with his permission I will circulate the detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the detailed figures:
§ Between the Armistice and 31st March, 1926, the Ministry repaid in full the actual losses arising in those years on smallholdings provided by councils. The total 588 amount so repaid was £5,100,000, this being almost entirely in respect of holdings for ex-service men provided under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919.
§ As from 1st April, 1926, the Ministry pays to each council a pre-determined annual contribution for the whole of the council's smallholdings estates as existing at that date. The total amount so paid up to 31st December, 1936, was £9,027,000. Since 1926, further holdings have been provided by councils under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926. In respect of any such holdings involving a loss, the Ministry pays contributions not exceeding 75 per cent. of the estimated annual loss, the remainder falling upon the councils' smallholdings accounts. Payments made to councils under this arrangement amounted at the end of 1936 to £151,000.
§ Up to 31st December, 1936, grants amounting to £690,000 were paid by the Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales) in aid of the settlement on the land of men from the Special Areas, and grants amounting to £51,749 were paid from the Development Fund to the Land Settlement Association. The net expenditure incurred by the Ministry in the settlement of men on its own estates amounted on 31st March, 1936, to £687,000.