§ 50. Mr. Shephardasked the Minister of Agriculture why the Bingham Rural District Council who wished to build four agricultural cottages on agricultural land 1039 in Bingham, belonging to the Commissioners of Crown Lands, were asked £275 for half an acre whereas the average price of land in rural districts is £85 per acre and, as the Bingham Rural District Council wish to acquire land from the Commissioners for their post-war housing scheme and the Commissioners are exempt from the Lands Acquisition Act, 1919, what steps does he propose to take to ensure that this council will be able to acquire the land required at a reasonable figure.
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)The site which the Bingham rural district council wished to acquire is near the centre of the small town of Bingham, with a frontage to the public street of 183 feet, Water and other services are in the immediate vicinity. The price asked was agreed between the Crown surveyors and the district valuer, and is comparable with the prices paid for several other similar building sites situate within 120 yards of the present site and sold by the Commissioners before the war. The Commissioners are ready to consider the sale of other land to the council and will do their best to assist them subject to their statutory duties. They are bound by the Crown Lands Acts and, except in certain circumstances which do not apply to a case of this kind, are unable to sell land below the best price that, in their opinion, can reasonably be obtained.
§ Mr. ShephardIs the Minister aware that the Bingham rural district council ultimately abandoned the building of these cottages because of the price which was asked, and that they have built them in an adjoining parish?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member seems to be giving a lot of information rather than asking for it.