§ *MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Henley)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will consider the advisability of appointing local inspectors in different parts of the country to assist the Commissioners in ascertaining the extent of the demand for land.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY,) Somersetshire, S.The work of ascertaining the existing demands for Small Holdings is practically completed. It is therefore not necessary to adopt the suggestion of my hon. friend.
§ *MR. MORRELLasked if there had not been a great deal of delay in consequence of the duty being left to the County Councils instead of the Commissioners?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThere has been no unnecessary delay.
§ MR. MORRELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what particulars the Small Holdings Commissioners have in their possession of those applications made under the Act in which the applicants have not yet been satisfied.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYInformation on this point will be obtained for the purposes of our Annual Report, but the Board are not at present in a position to give the particulars asked for. Every specific complaint received by the Board is at once investigated.
§ MR. MORRELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what is the number of applications made for allotments under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe number of applications is small. Full particulars will be published in our Annual Report.
§ MR. MORRELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the large demand that has arisen under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, the Board has appointed or intends to appoint any additional Commissioners or inspectors beyond the six gentlemen originally appointed under the Act.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYIt is proposed to employ another inspector at once. If it is found necessary to obtain the services of others we shall most certainly do so.