§ Major CHAPPLEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in order to make land in Scotland available in small holdings for returned soldiers, he will promote legislation defining an economic area of land, freeing individual economic areas from all taxation, placing on the value of each multiple of economic areas a graduated tax of such a rapidly rising incidence that its persuasive pressure will induce all holders of excessive areas of land held in comparative idleness to subdivide their excess and offer it to discharged soldiers at its production value, and thus avoid the delay and ineffectiveness of costly administration in all other land for settlement schemes?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not sure that I rightly understand the elaborate programme outlined by my hon. Friend. I would, however, point out at once that what my hon. Friend terms an economic area must vary in extent in different localities. If he will send me any definite proposals, I am ready to consider them, so far as they fall properly within the sphere of my Department.
§ Major CHAPPLEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state the number of acres made available for small holders under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, the number of small holders supplied with land, and the cost to the State, including the cost of administration of the Act, per acre and per holder?
§ Mr. TENNANTA Return will be prepared which will embrace answers to the first three parts of my hon. Friend's question. I regret that I cannot promise to furnish the information asked for in the fourth part of the question, as any attempt to do so could only be misleading.