§ Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked whether, in schemes of land acquisition under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, the price and conditions of purchase or hire are submitted by the local authorities to the Board for confirmation; whether, in the case of such price or conditions appearing unreasonable, the Board may and do arrange an independent valuation; and, if so, whether this power is exercised and to what extent?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board arrange in every case for an inspection of the land by one of their officers before a scheme is approved. If the price or conditions of hiring appear unreasonable the County Council are advised to consider the desirability of taking compulsory proceedings.
§ Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state the number of applications for land made by inhabitants of Cheshunt to the Hertfordshire County Council and the total amount of land thus applied for; how many persons have been placed in possession of small holdings or allotments; and how much land has been acquired, whether by purchase or upon lease, and upon what terms?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYSix applications have been made for 102 acres. Land has been let to two of the applicants by the county council, one has obtained land privately, one has been approved by the county council for twenty acres, one has been referred to the Urban District Council, and one has not yet been interviewed. The county council have purchased sixty-seven acres for £2,349.
§ Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether Mr. W. H. King, of South Beddington, is to be dispossessed of the small holding he has cultivated for some years; whether he will receive compensation for the flower roots with which the land is stocked and upon which he depends for his livelihood; whether steps are being taken to supply King with other suitable land; and, if so, what is its extent and where is it situated?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second part is in the negative. The County Council have offered three acres of land at Woodcote to Mr. King, which he has provisionally accepted.
Mr. WORRELLIs the hon. Baronet aware that King will be immediately deprived of his allotment by the parish council, and that it may be several months before he is able to get a small holding? Has the Board of Agriculture done anything to expedite the matter?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Board of Agriculture has done a great deal.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill my hon. Friend answer my question, whether it is a fact that this gentleman will be deprived of his allotment by the parish council, and there will be an interval, during which he will have nothing by which to support himself, that will be owing to the action of the parish council. Are the Board of Agriculture able to interfere in the matter?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYMy answer to that is; it is his own fault.
§ Mr. MORRELLMay I ask also——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must go to the trouble of putting down a question.