§ Mr. ACLANDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether it is proposed to spend £79,350 on equipping 661 acres, or £120 an acre, for settlement by ex-service men in the county of Surrey; if so, how many men it is proposed to settle for this sum; in how many cases will houses have to be provided; and what is the estimated average burden on the State for each man settled?
1629W
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Ministry has approved the expenditure of approximately the amount mentioned for equipping small holding properties acquired by the Surrey County Council. The area of land for which this equipment has been approved is 342 acres on which 101 market garden or cottage holdings are to be provided. The number of new houses to be erected is 98 and the average annual loss per holding is estimated to be £41.
§ Mr. ACLANDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether the Ministry were recently negotiating the purchase of 4,000 acres of land in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and the isle of Ely for the settlement of ex-service men; whether they consulted any of the respective small holdings committees as to the suitability of the land or the price to be paid for it; whether the scheme is now abandoned; and, if so, why?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. The negotiations for the acquisition of the land in question were terminated as the Ministry was unable to accept conditions which the vendor desired to attach to the sale of the property.