Mr. RUNCIMANasked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage has been bought or leased by the county councils of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Devon, and Cornwall, respectively, for small holdings under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, up to 1928, and what are the similar figures under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1926?
Mr. GUINNESSMore than one-half of the lard which has been acquired by local authorities for small holdings purposes was purchased or taken on lease during the period 1919–26 under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919. The following statement therefore shows separately the area acquired for each of the counties mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman at the end of each of the years 1918, 1926 and 1928.
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STATEMENT showing the areas of land acquired for Small Holdings purposes by certain County Councils, 1908–1928. — Norfolk. Suffolk (East). Suffolk (West). Essex. Devon. Cornwall I. Acquired from 1908 to 1918, under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908: Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Purchased 9,692 1,064 2,365 2,955 7,323 2,862 Hired 2,898 189 193 310 1,634 1.83 Total 12,590 1,253 2,558 3,265 8,957 3,045 II. Area acquired prior to the passing of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, and still retained at 31st December, 1928: Purchased 22,730 3,927 7,371 6,721 13,080 10,589 Hired 4,127 209 141 313 2,475 828 Total 26,857 4,136 7,512 7,034 15,555 11,417 III. Area acquired in 1927 and 1928 under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926: Purchased 413 — 105 27 147 — Hired 180 — — 4 — — Total 593 — 105 31 147 — IV. Total area acquired and still retained at 31st December, 1928, under the Small Holdings Acts: Purchased 23,143 3,927 7,476 6,748 13,227 10,589 Hired 4,307 209 141 317 2,475 828 Total 27,450 4,136 7,617 7,065 15,702 11,417 Note.—The figures given under II. comprise the areas given under I. together with the acreage acquired under the Act of 1919 after making allowance for any land sold to tenants or otherwise disposed of previous to 31st December, 1928. In the same way, the figures under IV. are the totals of II. and III. after making a similar deduction.