§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will state how many bonâ fide farm labourers have been allotted small holdings under the Small Holdings Act of 1908; and how many small holdings have been allotted to persons having other businesses?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir E. Strachey)I am unable to supply the information for which the Noble Lord asks, as many county councils have not thought it necessary to classify the occupations of the applicants.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state why six additional Small Holdings Commissioners have recently been appointed; by whom the appointments were made; what were the 8 qualifications considered in making the appointments; and what were the salaries attached?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe additional commissioners have been appointed to assist county councils in providing small holdings for the large number of approved applicants who still remain unsatisfied. The appointments were made by the President of the Board, and in accordance with the Act the persons appointed were possessed of a knowledge of agriculture. The salary is £800 a year.
§ Mr. LOGANNow that the Board have got these six additional Commissioners may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary thinks it advisable that a report should be given to the House of the number of agricultural labourers who have received small holdings under the Act, and also the number of other men who hold small businesses in the various villages?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI will inquire into it and see if it can be done.