§ Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that the owners of Skeyne's farm, Edenbridge, have offered the Kent County Council the option of purchasing the said farm for the purposes of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act; whether if he can state if the council is negotiating for its acquisition; 2294 if so, how far has the matter proceeded; and whether he is aware that applications for the land have been made by members of the Edenbridge Land Club, Limited, who are fully capable of guaranteeing three years' rent as required?
§ The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Sir E. Strachey)The Kent County Council were unable to entertain the offer to purchase Skeyne's farm, inasmuch as the owners wished to include in the sale a large house adjoining the farm which is not suitable for small holdings. Nor could the council acquire the farm on lease, as it had been already let for ten years. We understand that application was made on the 9th inst. for the land by the secretary of the Edenbridge Land Club, and we would suggest that full information as to the financial resources of the club should be sent to the county council.