HC Deb 26 November 1908 vol 197 cc681-3
MR. R. HARCOURT (Montrose Burghs)

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he has information showing that the Hampshire County Council intend shortly to acquire 234 acres for small holdings, whereas the area applied for is 7,584 acres; and whether the Board, as the constituted judges in the matter, propose to make any representations to the council as to the advisability of their making greater use of their statutory powers.

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

The Board are informed that the county council are negotiating for other lands in addition to the 234 acres mentioned. We are in constant communication with the county council and representations were made by the Commissioner last August, urging the county council to use their compulsory powers wherever there was no immediate prospect of obtaining land by agreement.

MR. R. HARCOURT

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that in Hampshire, 499 applications have been made for 7,584 acres, out of which 168 applications have been refused as unsuitable and 226 applications for 2,354 acres provisionally approved; and will he say whether the decision as to suitability rests in the discretion of the county council; and, if not, whether the Commissioners or the Board propose to keep a central register of applications and to notify the unsuccessful applicants (who in this single case have asked for over 5,000 acres) that they have a power of appeal.

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

The figures given are approximately correct. The decision as to whether applicants are suitable or not rests in the first instance with the county council, but any applicant who is dissatisfied can write to the Board, who inquire into every such complaint. The Board do not think it necessary to keep a central register of applications.

MR. R. HARCOURT

May I ask my hon. friend if his attention has been called to a recent discussion in the Hants County Council, when the Earl of North-brook said that the council had "built slowly, carefully, deliberately and with circumspection" and whether the Board do not think that the carefulness and circumspection are being a little overdone?

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

It all depends on the degree of slowness.