§ VISCOUNT VALENTIA (Oxford)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that serious inconvenience, if not loss, is caused to tenants of small holdings by their inability to occupy and work land let by county councils owing to the delay in confirmation of schemes by the Board; that some schemes have been months in the hands of the Board awaiting confirmation; and does the Board insist that all land proposed in each scheme to be let should be individually inspected by an officer of the Board; and, if so, whether some addition to the staff of the Board is necessary to obviate the delay complained of.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY,) Somersetshire, E.There has been no delay in the confirmation of satisfactory schemes by the Board. The noble Lord probably has in mind three schemes submitted by a county council at the end of September last, which have not yet been confirmed 83 owing to a difference of opinion between the council and the Board as to whether the rents proposed to be charged by the council are not unnecessarily high.
§ MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Henley)Is there to be any addition to the staff?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThere will be some additions.