§ Mr. ERNEST JARDINEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any and, if so, which of the Governments of the German Empire, Denmark, and France respectively, financially support and, if so, to what approximate annual total extent in the case of each country, any bank or other institution to enable actual cultivators and would-be cultivators of agricultural land to become the owners of the same; whether it is or has ever been the practice of such bank or 1682W other institution to advance the whole of the purchase money to actual cultivators and would-be—cultivators respectively of agricultural land desiring to purchase; and, if so, in which, country or countries; and whether, if he has not the information available, he will take such steps as may be necessary to endeavour to obtain the same?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYIn Denmark there are no land purchase banks. In France there are many societies for granting working loans to cultivators of the soil, and these societies may make loans to persons who wish to buy land. In Germany the system is too complicated to give details in an answer. I should be glad to put the hon. Member in the way of obtaining further information on the subject generally if he will communicate with me.