HC Deb 25 February 1937 vol 320 cc2172-4
44. Mr. G. Hardie

asked the Minister of Health whether the Darlington Corporation have yet purchased 350 acres for an airport east of Lingfield Lane, about which there has been a dispute with the owner of the land; and what has been the amount of assessment of the land in question for the purposes of Income Tax?

The Minister of Health (Sir Kingsley Wood)

I understand that a compulsory purchase order made by the corporation for the acquisition of the area referred to is being considered by the Secretary of State for Air. I have no information as to the assessment of the land for Income Tax purposes.

Mr. Hardie

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman obtain the assessment for Income Tax purposes so that the House may be informed whether the purchase takes place in relation to its real value?

Sir K. Wood

This is a matter for the official arbitrator.

Mr. Bellenger

Is it not a comparatively easy matter to ascertain the tax assessment for any of these lands or hereditaments?

Sir K. Wood

This matter will, no doubt, be dealt with by the official arbitrator, who will be able to obtain the information.

Mr. Hardie

Am I to understand that the Department which looks after such things in connection with Income Tax cannot give the Minister the figure at which this land has been assessed?

Sir K. Wood

It is no concern of mine; it is to be dealt with by the official arbitrator.

Mr. Paling

Why is there this reluctance to give these figures? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one Minister refers the question to another Minister, and so on, and as far as I know there has never been an answer given yet?

46. Mr. Hardie

asked the Minister of Health the present rateable value of the land at Parlaunt Farm, Langley, Slough, which was proposed to be used as an airport; what price his Department thought it to be worth; and at what value has it been assessed for the purpose of Income Tax?

Sir K. Wood

On the first and third parts of the question, I have no information. As regards the second part, I was advised by the district valuer of the Board of Inland Revenue that the purchase price asked for the land was excessive, and I was not prepared to sanction a loan for that amount. The Slough Council have submitted to the Secretary of State for Air a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of this land which, if confirmed, will enable the purchase price to be settled by arbitration under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919.

Mr. Hardie

In view of the statement made by the Minister for the Co-ordina- tion of Defence last week as to the meticulous methods he was adopting in order to get all kinds of information, why cannot I have an answer to the last part of the question? What is behind this general idea among Ministers, that, when it comes to this money being swindled out of the taxpayers, we cannot get the information we desire? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer that question now? Why cannot we get the information? [Interruption.] I think that he would like to give it.

Mr. Speaker

That sort of language ought not to be used in a supplementary question.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not clear from the question and the facts in the possession of the Department, that certain landowners are trying to exploit the community; and will the Government take action to deal with the matter?

Sir K. Wood

No, Sir. I do not think that from these questions anything is clear. Certainly, this question deals only with an individual case, and not with the general indictment which the hon. Gentleman generally prefers to make.

48. Mr. MacLaren

asked the Minister of Health what purchase price is being asked for land in the parish of Tollerton, which the Nottingham Corporation require for an aerodrome; how many acres are in the area required; and what is the value at which it is now assessed for purposes of Income Tax?

Sir K. Wood

The corporation have applied to me for consent to borrow £14,157 for the purchase by agreement of 322 acres, and to the Secretary of State for Air for confirmation of a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of a further 166 acres. Both applications are still under consideration. I have no information about the price negotiations in connection with the second area, or about the value of any of the lands for Income Tax purposes.