HC Deb 06 August 1940 vol 364 cc56-7W
Sir J. Lamb

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to give the promised table of calculation, under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) (No. 2) Bill, relative to the recovery from the owners of land of the cost of making roads in Fenland?

Mr. Hudson

The provisions governing the recovery from landowners of the cost of improving grass ways over fenlands are contained in Sub-section 3 of Clause 2 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) (No. 2) Bill. I explained these provisions in general terms in my speech on the Second Reading of the Bill [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st August, 1940; cols. 1448–9, Vol. 363], and as then promised the following examples are circulated in order to illustrate the operation of the provisions:

(i) Assume that a block of land comprising seven holdings has been improved at a cost of £9,000 and that the aggregate increase in value of the block is £12,000. In this case, since the increase in value exceeds the cost the maximum prescribed in paragraph (b) of the Sub-section applies and the maximum amount recoverable is calculated as follows:

Holding. Increase in Value (assumed.) Proportion per Holding of total increase in value. Maximum amount recoverable (corresponding percentage of £,9,000).
£ Per cent. £
No. 1 4,000 33⅓ 3,000
No. 2 3,000 25 2,250
No. 3 2,000 16⅔. 1,500
No. 4 1,000 8⅓ 750
No. 5 1,000 8⅓ 750
No. 6 500 41/6 375
No. 7 500 41/6 375

(ii) Assume as above that a block of land comprising four holdings has been improved in value by £12,000, but that the cost of the works exceeded £12,000.

In this case the maximum prescribed in paragraph (a) of the Sub-section applies and the maximum amount recoverable would be the sum set out in the first column above.