HC Deb 20 February 1933 vol 274 cc1438-9
41. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has in contemplation any scheme for finding land for allotments for unemployed mining villages in England similar to the scheme initiated in Scotland?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Major Elliot)

The powers under which the Department of Agriculture for Scotland are providing the land referred to are contained in the Small Land Holders (Scotland) Act, 1911. In England and Wales the responsibility for providing allotments is, under the Allotments Acts, vested in local authorities, and the provision of seeds, fertilizers and implements for the use of unemployed persons cultivating allotments is at present greatly facilitated by a grant which is being made from the Development Fund to the Society of Friends. The provisions of the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Act, 1931, enabling the Ministry to provide allotments for unemployed persons, have not been put into operation, as no funds can at present be made available for that purpose.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied with that state of affairs, or is he holding out a hope that the mining villages of, say, Staffordshire will be provided for on similar lines to those in Scotland?

Major ELLIOT

In the first place, it is a question of availability of funds; but I am sure that the results of the experiment which is now going on in Scotland will be of great interest and value.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Why should Staffordshire be behind Scotland?

Mr. McGOVERN

They always have been behind.

Major ELLIOT

That is not necessarily so. I have known of cases where an experiment was not regarded as an advantage, but as a disadvantage.

Mr. MAXTON

Could not the£900,000 which is being devoted to Territorial camps have been more profitably devoted to the development of agriculture?

Major ELLIOT

I should certainly think that a great many of the people who are taking advantage of that grant are themselves unemployed men who would be very glad of the facilities offered by the Territorial camps.

Mr. MAXTON

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman will excuse me, but that was not my question—

Mr. SPEAKER

This question is about allotments, and not about Territorial Army camps.