§ MR. MORRELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of 1229 Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to a Resolution passed by the Parish Councils Conference on 11th July, with regard to the difficulties of parish councils in providing allotments, owing to the fact that allotments may only be granted to those engaged in manual labour; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of so amending the law as to permit parish councils to grant allotments up to five acres to all suitable applicants.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The difficulty to which my hon. friend refers does, no doubt, occur on some occasions, but where the applicant desires more than one acre he can be provided with land under the Small Holdings Acts whether he belongs to the labouring population or not. It is not proposed to initiate further legislation on the subject at the present time.