§ MR. BRODIE (Surrey, Reigate)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board of Agriculture has received information relating to the land club system initiated at Limpsfield, in Surrey, by Mr. Montague Fordham and others; whether, in view of the fact that this system would appear to be a most valuable one for carrying out the provisions of The Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, and generally for promoting the revival of country life, the Board will support such clubs with funds, and in other ways, and will advise county and parish councils to do 851 the same; whether the Board of Agriculture has yet prepared a model set of rules for land clubs and co-operative societies having for their object the promotion of small holdings or allotments; and, if not, whether it is the intention of the Board to issue such rules at an early date.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The attention of the Board has been drawn to the proposals to which my hon. friend refers, and we shall watch their development with interest. It would not, however, be within the power of the Board to make grants to clubs such as those which it is intended to constitute, and any applications for assistance should be addressed to the county councils concerned. Parish councils are not empowered to raise moneys for the purpose. The question of the issue of model rules for co-operative small holdings and allotments societies is under consideration.