§ MR. ELLIS DAVIESI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain county councils are providing the names of applicants for small holdings to landowners; and whether, in view of the unsatisfactory position of small holders in Ireland and Wales holding under private landowners without security of tenure, he will point out to the councils that the requirements of the applicants should be supplied by the councils direct, so as to secure them the benefits provided by the Act.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe Board have already informed certain county councils that the names of applicants should not be furnished to private landowners without their consent, and we have reason to suppose that in those cases the practice has been discontinued. If an applicant desires to hold direct from the county council it is the duty of the county council to meet his wishes in this respect provided he would be a suitable tenant of a small holding.