Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he could state the number of persons who have been supplied with allotments during the last five years, the approximate size of such allotments, and if the Board of Agriculture have advanced to such persons any money or material for the building of houses?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)16,944 persons were supplied with allotments of land acquired by local authorities in England and Wales for the purpose in the three years 1908, 1909, 1910. The average size of the allotments was approximately one rood and nine perches. It is not possible to give similar information for the years 1906 and 1907. The Board have no power to advance money to allotment tenants for the building of houses.
Mr. CATHCART WASONCan the hon. Gentleman give me separately the number of allotments furnished in Scotland to the knowledge of his Department?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI must ask for notice of that question.
§ Mr. EUGENE WASONIs it not the case as stated in the papers that since the passing of the Agricultural holdings Act for England and Wales the number of small holdings is less now than it was before the passing of the Act?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThat is so, but of course there are explanations of that which are too long to give now.
§ Mr. EUGENE WASONWill the hon. Baronet publish those explanations?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI think it would be better if the right hon. Gentleman would wait until there is an opportunity in debate of raising this question.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked what is the total number of persons now in occupation of land let to them as small holdings by county councils under the Small Holdings Act, 1908; and what is the total acreage of such land?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYOn the 31st of December last 5,343 small-holders were in actual occupation of land let to them by county councils to the extent of 69,429 acres.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the hon. Baronet state when the other 1,000 applicants will be provided for?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI hope in due course.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked how many of those who were approved by the county councils in 1908 as suitable applicants are still without land?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Board have no information on this point. The men whose applications were approved in 1908 are not separately distinguished in the returns made by the county councils.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the hon. Baronet obtain information on this point?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI will inquire.
§ Mr. BARNSTONasked if the hon. Baronet can see his way to add the name of one practical tenant farmer to the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the position of tenant farmers on the occasion of the sale of their holdings?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe President regrets that he does not see his way further to enlarge this committee, which now consists of fourteen members. Mr. Colin Campbell, the president of the National Farmers' Union, who is a member of the committee, is himself a practical tenant farmer.
§ Mr. BARNSTONIs there anybody on the committee who represents the dairy farming industry from a dairy farmer's point of view?
§ Mr. TIMOTHY DAVIESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he is aware of the practice of certain county councils on the receipt of applications for land under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, to put a representa- 1786 tive of the Commissioner of Canada in communication with the applicants in order to induce such men to emigrate; and whether he will take any steps to prevent the Act being carried out in this way?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo, Sir, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the names of the county councils to which he refers I will inquire into this alleged practice.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs it not a fact that it was done in Lincolnshire in the case of the Kesteven county council?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI have already informed my hon. Friend I am not aware of the practice, but I will inquire into it.
§ Mr. EDWARD STRAUSSasked what steps the President of the Board of Agriculture is taking to carry out the promise he made to secure the Idstone farm, Berkshire, for small holdings?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYMy Noble Friend undertook to do his best to secure the farm in question for small holdings, but he is informed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners that they are advised that it is not suitable for this purpose, and for this and other reasons of a practical character, as also on account of the displacement of labour which would be entailed, they are not prepared to let it to the Small Holdings Association which desired to take it. The Commissioners are, however, very willing to do all that they can to meet the requirements of the local applicants. The Commissioners are the owners of other land in the neighbourhood which may be found suitable for subdivision, and arrangements will be made at an early date for conference on the spot between the representatives of the Commissioners, the Board and the local Small Holdings Society; and the President has every reason to hope that an arrangement satisfactory to all concerned will be arrived at.
§ Mr. EDWARD STRAUSSWould the hon. Baronet exert his influence with the Board to see the necessary steps are taken to prevent the owner letting the farm while negotiations are pending?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI will represent that to the President of the Board.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan he tell me who it was advised the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, contrary to the opinion of the President of the Board of Agriculture, that this was not suitable for small holdings?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI am not aware.
An HON. MEMBERMay I ask the hon. Baronet if he is aware that the county council have also considered the question whether this farm is suitable for small holdings, and have refused the application because they thought it undesirable?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. TIMOTHY DAVIESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the action of the Kesteven County Council in letting off the shooting rights over small holdings belonging to the council, without reference to the occupiers of the holdings and against their interests; whether he is aware that a memorial of protest, signed by fourteen of the small holders was disregarded by the council; whether any provision for letting the shooting rights in this way was included in the scheme submitted to the Board; and what is the policy of the Board in this matter?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo, Sir, but I am inquiring into the matter.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the hon. Gentleman tell me whether any provision is made as to the question of shooting rights in the scheme submitted to the Board?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI would ask my hon. Friend to give me notice of that.