§ SIR W. FOSTERI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is acquainted with any instances in which land enclosed for cultivation as allotments under 1 and 2 William IV., Clause 42, has been sold; whether the proceeds of such sales, if any, are devoted to Poor Law purposes, and whether all such sales are reported to the Local Government Board?
§ * MR. RITCHIEI am only aware of two instances in which portions of land which has been enclosed for allotments under 1 and 2 William IV., Clause 42, have been sold. In one case the land was acquired under compulsory powers for School Board purposes, and in the other case the portion of the land sold was purchased by the Guardians of the Union as a site for a relief station. The dividends on the proceeds of these sales are applied in aid of the Poor Rate of the parish, with the exception that a portion of the sale produce was applied to the repayment of a debt in respect of a public Free Library. Lands enclosed under the Act referred to, unless they are purchased under powers of compulsory purchase conferred by Parliament, can only be sold with the consent of the Local Government Board.
§ SIR W. FOSTERDoes the Local Government Board receive notices of all such sales?
§ * MR. RITCHIEUnless acquired under powers of compulsory purchase they cannot be sold without the sanction of the Board. If they were acquired compulsorily under a Provisional Order of the Board, the Board would, of course, be aware of all the circumstances of the case.