§ Mr. EDMUND LAMBasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will explain why, although the Herefordshire County Council have bought land near Leominster at the price of £42 an acre, they have refused to buy Lower Docklow Farm of 246 acres, 1 rood, 35 poles, which was sold the other day for £4,250, and which farm was in every way suitable for small holdings as contemplated by the Act of 1907?
§ The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Sir E. Strachey)The county council did not purchase the farm to which my hon. Friend refers, because only six approved applicants resided within four miles of it, and those applicants only required eighty acres. Very few applicants for small holdings in the county are willing to remove from their present homes.
§ Mr. EDMUND LAMBasked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he is aware that only 30 approved applicants will be provided with land in Herefordshire by next February under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act; what is the total number of approved applicants; and for how many acres they have applied?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYFifty-one approved applicants will be provided with land by next February. The total number of approved applicants is 202 for 4,000 acres.
§ Mr. EDMUND LAMBasked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether the Board of Agriculture proposes to use its compulsory powers in Herefordshire so that the Small Holdings and Allotments Act may be administered?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe county council have now acquired 845 acres by agreement and have made two compulsory purchase orders for 161 acres. They have not as yet been able to let 225 acres of the land acquired by agreement, and are therefore rather disposed to hold their hands before acquiring any more. The position in the county will be carefully watched, but the Board do not consider that it would be desirable 2004 for them to intervene in the manner suggested under existing circumstances.
§ Mr. EDMUND LAMBMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Board of Agriculture approve of the way in which this county council have acted?