§ MR. BRODIE (Surrey, Reigate)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board is aware that the Surrey County Council is referring applicants for small holdings of one acre to parish councils, and that in certain, parishes the councils are hostile to the Small Holdings and Allotments Act; and whether he will
§ that a Report of the work of the Institute during 1906–7 is now in the hands of the printers, and will shortly be laid before Parliament.
§ make inquiries so as to secure that the Act shall not be rendered inoperative in certain districts.
§ (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board are aware of the action of the county council but not of the hostility of the parish councils to which my hon. friend refers. The duty of providing holdings of one acre rests on parish councils, but if they fail to carry out 1671 their obligations representations should be made to the county council, who are empowered to take action in default.