§ Mr. N. BUXTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has instituted inquiries into the progress made by ex-service men who have been installed on the land under the Land Settlement Act, 1916?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI presume the hon. Member refers to the men settled under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act of 1919. At the suggestion of the Council of Agriculture for England, the Ministry conducted an inquiry as to the present position and future prospects of ex-service men settled on the land in England and Wales, and prepared a report which has been published by the Stationery Office, covering the period from the Armistice up to Lady Day last. A copy of the Report is being sent to the hon. Member.
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§ Mr. HANNONasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether he will have a statement prepared setting forth the total amount expended on land settlement in Scotland between the date of the Armistice and the 30th June, 1923; and the amount of the advances which has been repaid during that period?
§ Captain ELLIOTThe total sums borrowed by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland from the Public Works Loan Commissioners during the four years ended 31st March, 1923, is £1,113,228. The actual net expenditure from these moneys was £977,476. In addition to this, the net expenditure from the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund was £319,145. Of the total sums borrowed by the Board mentioned above there has been paid to the Public Works Loan Commissioners: Capital, £22,175 10s. 3d.; interest, £128,076 7s. 11d. The amounts paid by holders to the Board in respect of rents and annuities during the period is £114,297 1s. 7d. The total sums voted by Parliament in repayment of loss incurred by the Board during the period, so far as such loss relates to expenditure out of sums borrowed from the Public Works Loan Commissioners, is £136,674 17s. 1d.