§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will request all county councils to issue returns showing how many small holdings have been allotted to bonâ fide agricultural labourers under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, and how many persons having other businesses?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)The preparation of such a return would entail a considerable amount of work on county councils, but I will ask them to adopt the Noble Lord's suggestion in their annual returns for this year. There is no limitation in the Act of the class of persons entitled to small holdings.
Sir GILBERT PARKERHas the Board of Agriculture power to require county councils to do this, or have they to trust to the willingness of county councils to do it?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI should think the Board certainly have that power, but we have never found it necessary to do anything more than ask the county councils to assist in carrying out the Act. I have no doubt they will be quite ready to assist us in this matter.
§ Viscount WOLMERDoes the hon. Baronet not think that the information asked for would be exceedingly useful in judging these cases?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYYes. If it did not think the information would be useful I should not ask the county councils to furnish it.
§ Mr. HAMERSLEYWhen the hon. Baronet asks the county councils to give-that information does he not think they should be asked to give details as to how many agricultural labourers have given up their small holdings since they were allotted to them?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI will consider that point.
§ Mr. HAMERSLEYAnd the reason for giving them up?
§ Viscount WOLMERasked how many county councils have issued Returns showing how many bonâ fide agricultural labourers have been allotted small holdings under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, and how many small holdings have been allotted to persons having other businesses; and whether he will state what is the total number of each of those classes-as shown by these available statistics?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo county councils-have made such returns to the Board.
§ Viscount WOLMERThere are the official returns.
§ Sir E. STRACHEYWe have had no official returns lately, but I will inquire into the matter.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked why, in view of the fact that the Small Holdings Commissioners in their Report for 1910 [Cd. 5,615] state that in another two years practically the whole of the present demand for small holdings will be satisfied, six additional commissioners have been appointed at an annual cost of £4,800; and whether he anticipates that the future demand for small holdings will necessitate four times as many commissioners as have been hitherto adequate, and, if so, why?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe statement in the Report refers to the position at the end of 1910. Since then a large number of additional applications have been received. I am satisfied that the staff now at the Board's disposal will be no more than, sufficient for the work to be done.