asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent farm rent increases have been proposed in respect of his Department's agricultural land on the Otterburn range; and to what extent these increases have been limited as part of the counter-inflation policy.

Since 1st January 1977 the rents for eight farms have been reviewed after an interval of three years as is the normal practice, resulting in increases of between 25 and 75 per cent., payable from May 1978. These in-increases have not been limited as part of the counter-inflation policy. Limitations on rent increases for agricultural land were removed by SI No. 59 of 1975—The Counter-Inflation (Agricultural Rents) (Decontrol) Order 1975.