§ Mr. HEDGESasked the hon. Member for South Somerset if all counties in a condition similar to, or more backward than, Lancashire and Wiltshire in respect to the acquisition of land under the Small Holdings Act in proportion to the demand will receive the advantage of the appointment of a special Commissioner?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYPerhaps my hon. Friend will allow me to refer him to the reply I gave on the 6th inst. in answer to a question on the same subject by my hon. Friend the Member for South Oxfordshire. I may add, however, that our permanent staff now comprises 10 commissioners, assistant commissioners, and inspectors, all of whom are in constant and continuous communication with county councils as to the measures to be taken for putting the Act in operation. It is only in exceptional cases that the services of special commissioners are required.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs my hon. Friend aware that, whereas the number of approved applicants in Wilts and Oxfordshire is precisely the same, the Wilts county council have obtained for small holdings more than twice as much land as the Oxfordshire County Council; and can he say why a special commissioner is sent to Wilts and not to Oxfordshire?
§ Mr. J. ROWLANDSMay I ask the hon. Member whether it is the case that Wiltshire and Lancashire are worse than those of the Southern counties, and will he take into consideration the position of these two counties?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYOf course, we will take into consideration any complaints with regard to any particular county.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs my hon. Friend aware that of all the county councils in 1821 England and Wales, 50 councils have obtained a smaller amount than the Wilts county council, only 10 have obtained more; and will he still say that Wilts is the most backward of the two counties?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo; I am not aware of it.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is giving information instead of asking for it.