§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the smallholders at Mattingley and Rotherwick, Hampshire, who rent land from the State, have to pay a rent of from 34s. to 100s. per acre, whereas similar small holdings in the same neighbourhood, of similar acreage, soil and equipment, which are rented from private landowners, pay rents which vary from 15s. to 22s. 6d. per acre; and whether he can see his way to reduce the rents of the small holdings rented from the State?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe rents of small holdings on the Mattingley and Rotherwick estates of the Hampshire County Council have been reduced since 1921 from £1,470 to £1,025, while abatements of £630 were granted for the period prior to Michaelmas, 1922, when the revised rents took effect. I am advised that the existing rents are not excessive and cannot be properly compared with the rents quoted in the question of holdings in the same district rented from private owners, which I am informed refer to holdings of much larger areas than the 50 acres to which statutory small holdings are limited or which are the rateable values of holdings owned by their occupiers. I would add that the maximum rate of 100s. per acre is in respect of a market garden holding of 5 acres with an excellent modern house.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the rents charged by the Government for small holdings at Mattingley and Rotherwick, Hampshire, have caused the small holdings in question to be rated higher than any neighbouring land; and whether he will see his way to reduce the rents in question?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe rents charged for the small holdings referred to are fixed on the basis laid down in the Land Settlement 1367W (Facilities) Act, 1919 If, in the case of these or any other statutory small holdings, it is found that the rents are in fact higher than the best rent that can reasonably be obtained at the present time, the county council concerned has full authority to revise the rent. I am informed that the practice of the Assessment Committee for the area in question is to base its assessments on the Committee's own valuation of the rental value of the various properties.