§ Mr. HINDSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what sum of money was expended in connection with the Crown Colony for ex-Service men at Pembrey, South Wales, for the period ending 29th September last for the purchase of land, improvement of land and erection of buildings, purchase, of stock and implements, and rates, wages, and all other items; what income has been received for the same period; and what is the present value of the stock, implements, etc.?
936W
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe total payments in connection with the farm settlement at Pembrey from the date of acquisition up to the 29th September last amounted to £56,229, including £30,960, the cost of acquisition. The receipts during the same period amounted to £2,198. As regards the present value of the stock, implements, etc., an independent valuer is at present making a valuation of the live and dead stock at this settlement for the purposes of the annual accounts, which will be published in the Report of Proceedings under the Small Bolding Colonies Acts for the year 1919. Until the valuer's report is received the information desired by the hon. Member cannot be given, but the live stock at present on this settlement consists of twenty horses, 369 cattle, 1,016 sheep, and sixty-two pigs.
§ Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if lie will state the number of farms acquired for small holdings and settlements in 1917, 1918, and 1919; the number of badly cultivated farms taken over in the same period; and what proportion of them had been adapted for small holdings and settlements?
Sir A. BOSCAWENWith my right hon. Friend's permission, I propose to circulate the figures for which he asks in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the last part of his question, no land of which possession was taken in consequence of bad cultivation has up-to-date been adapted for small holdings or farm settlements. This is due to the fact that, as a general rule, the land which was taken over is not suitable for small holdings.
The following are the figures referred to:
Year Number of properties acquired by country councils and councils of country boroughs for small holdings. Number of properties acquired by the Board for the establishment of farm settlements. Number of badly cultivated properties, of which possession has been taken. 1917 22 2 474 1918 51 3 573 1919 671 7 55