§ MR. ROWLANDSI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the attention of the Board has been drawn to the statement of Earl Darnley, as chairman of the Small Holdings Committee of the Kent County Council, that if land cannot be obtained by agreement more expeditiously in the future than at present the compulsory powers will have to be put in force; and whether, under the circumstances, the Board will fix an early date after which they will advise county councils to apply for compulsory powers.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe Board are aware of the statement to which my hon. friend refers. The Commissioner advised the county council more than three months ago to take action with regard to the compulsory acquisition of land at the earliest date possible in those cases where there was no reasonable prospect of suitable land being obtained by agreement. Subcommittees are now meeting in every district to consider what land shall be acquired compulsorily, and under these circumstances my hon. friend will no doubt agree that it would not be desirable at present to fix any particular date for application by the county council for compulsory powers.