Written Answers
Scotland
Land Drainage
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is yet able to state how much money will be available for land drainage grants in Scotland during the year 1931; when full particulars of the scheme will be announced; and when application forms will be issued?
Subject to the approval of Parliament there will be made available on the Vote of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland for the year 1931 for field drainage purposes a similar sum to that made available for the year 1930, namely, £29,950. Full particulars of the scheme have now been announced and forms of application issued.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he will state to what circumstances the delay, which handicaps both the farmers and the tile-manufacturing industry, in pub- lishing particulars of the land drainage scheme for Scotland is due; and whether, having regard to the fact that the period between the end of January and the middle of April is that within which most of the arable draining is done in many Scottish districts, he will ensure that the particulars of this scheme for each year are in future announced in the preceding autumn or early winter?
I recognise the advantages to agricultural interests in an early pronouncement of the Government's intentions in regard to assistance for schemes of field drainage work: and I regret that the financial situation at the present time has prevented an earlier intimation this year. The particulars have now been issued and every effort will be made to deal with applications as early as possible?
Agricultural Credits
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state when Part I of the
| — | Portsmouth. | Devonport. | Chatham. | Sheerness. | Pembroke.* | Rosyth. | |
| Valuation. | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 1928–29 | … | 86,955 | 73,524 | 52,624 | 16,863 | 8,462 | 29,207† |
| 1929–30. | |||||||
| Half-year to 30.9.29 | … | 86,955 | 98,983 | 62,502 | 16,863 | 8,172* | 19,165‡ |
| Half-year to 31.3.30 | … | 33,674 | 40,491 | 24,021 | 7,460 | 8,172 | |
| Contribution to local rates. | |||||||
| 1928–29 | … | 47,825 | 51,012 | 35,063 | 11,112 | 6,971 | 14,299† |
| 1929–30. | |||||||
| Half-year to 30.9.29 | … | 23,913 | 24,341 | 20,892 | 4,548 | 3,405 | 9,2877‡ |
| Half-year to 31.3.30 | … | 9,260 | 9,597 | 7,656 | 2,126 | 3,405 | |
| Totals for 1929–30 | … | £33,173 | £33,938 | £28,548 | £6,674 | £6,810 | £9,287‡ |
| * Now occupied by Air Ministry. | |||||||
| †For the year to Whit Sunday 1929. | |||||||
| ‡ For the year to Whit Sunday 1930. | |||||||
| The difference between the figures for the first and the second half of 1929–30 is mainly due to the Derating Act. | |||||||
Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act, 1929, will be brought into operation?
I am glad to be in a position to state that four of the Scottish banks have agreed to subscribe the necessary share capital for setting up an Agricultural Security Company in terms of Part 1 of the Act; and I have every reason to hope that a company will now be formed at as early a date as practicable.
Royal Dockyards (Rates)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the valuation for each of the Royal dockyards for the years 1928–29 and 1929–30, and the annual contribution to local rates for these years, respectively; and what change in the basis in Government contributions has been made as a result of the Derating Act?
The figures asked for by the hon. Member are as follow: