HC Deb 08 February 1911 vol 21 cc289-90
Mr. WEDGWOOD

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he was aware that the Duchy recently purchased eighteen and a half acres in Marchington Woodlands, Staffordshire, which land was required for a small holding by the Staffordshire County Council; that the Duchy officials asked the council not to compete at the auction, saying they would lease the land to the council or the council's tenant; and that, on obtaining the land, they have now refused to consider the application; and whether, under these circumstances, the Duchy will grant the council land elsewhere in that neighbourhood on reasonable terms to satisfy the demand for small holdings?

The CHANCELLOR of the DUCHY of LANCASTER (Mr. J. A. Pease)

The Duchy recently purchased, with my authority, 18½ acres at Marchington Woodlands. After the purchase was effected the Staffordshire County Council asked that these 18½ acres might be let to a nominee of theirs as a small holding. The lessee, who has been in occupation of this small holding for thirty years, together with eighty acres more land, and was a satisfactory tenant, asked to be allowed to remain, and I acceded to his request, as no good object seemed to be served by turning out the existing tenant for a new one. I may add that the Duchy officials did not ask the County Council not to compete at the auction, and that no promise was given to lease the land to the council's tenant. We were asked if we would let the holding or other suitable land to a county council tenant, and we replied that if the county council liked to apply the application would be considered. The Duchy, being anxious to encourage small holdings, have offered the county council, elsewhere in the neighbourhood on reasonable terms, two farms, one of 255 acres and the other 322 acres for small holdings. These offers have been declined.

Mr. WEDGWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the first part of the answer is directly contrary to the statement made by the Small Holdings Committee of the Staffordshire County Council? Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the report of the County Council as to the unsatisfactory nature of these farms?

Mr. PEASE

I have not seen any report as to the unsatisfactory nature of the farms, neither have I seen the other information referred to, but before answering the question I went through the whole correspondence, and I am satisfied that everything I have said is accurate.

Mr. WEDGWOOD

There were personal interviews as well.