§ Mr. RILEYasked the Minister of Agriculture the total acreage of land acquired by county and county borough councils under the Small Holdings Act of 1908, from the commencement of the Act down to July, 1914; the total cost of such land; and the amount spent upon equipping the land for small holdings, including the provision of houses and other buildings?
Mr. GUINNESSI am unable to give the figures for the exact period stated by the hon. Member. The total area acquired under the Act of 1908 down to the 31st December, 1914, was 198.288 acres, of which 139,478 acres were purchased for £4,601,692, and 58,810 acres were leased for rents amounting to£74,186. The total amount of loans sanctioned for equipment and adaptation during the same period was £911,859, The actual expenditure cannot be stated, but the difference would be very small.