§ Mr. BOULTONasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that the Huntingdonshire County Council has now purchased 1,200 acres of land in the county, at a cost of over £50,000, and that the preliminary expenses in connection with this purchase under the Small Holdings Act amount to over £1,000; and if he will say what steps are being taken to repay these expenses, or any part of them, to the county council out of the fund set apart by Government, under the Act of 1907, for the purpose?
§ Sir EDWARD STRACHEYWe have not yet received any claim from the county council for the repayment of the expenses to which my hon. Friend refers. When it is received it will at once be dealt with.
§ Mr. BOULTONasked the hon. Member for South Somerset if he is aware that J. W. Allpress, of Broughton, Huntingdonshire, applied to the county council for a small holding of about 10 acres; that the application was refused; and that an ap- 1818 plication was then made by Allpress to the Board of Agriculture and refused; if he will state the reason why this man, who has sufficient experience and capital, should be refused a small holding; if he is aware that Allpress's mother has arranged to let him the five acres of land belonging to her, and for this purpose has given notice to quit to a number of allotment holders; and if he will take steps to provide a small holding for this man, and thus prevent the disturbance of the allotment holders?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYWe are making further inquiry into this matter, and on receipt of full information respecting it I shall be glad to communicate with my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. BOULTONHas not a communication to the Board of Agriculture been already made by this man upon the point?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYAs I have already told my hon. Friend, we have not yet received full information. When we do I will communicate with him.