Mr. KINGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention had been directed to difficulties arising from the absence of recognised and definite rules for arriving at the value of land required for small holdings; and whether, in order to facilitate the acquisition of small holdings 210 at fair values, he would consider the issue of rules and directions for valuation, such as had been issued by the Irish Land Commission?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo, Sir. The value-of land is arrived at in accordance with the procedure indicated in the Act. The Board have no authority under the Act to issue rules and directions of the kind suggested.
§ Mr. MORRELLDo the Government intend to alter in any way their system of appointing valuers under this Act?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI do not understand to what my hon. Friend refers.
§ Mr. MORRELLIn future will separate valuers be appointed for each transaction, or will there be valuers representing the Board for each district?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member ought to give notice of that question.
§ Mr. RICHARD LAMBERTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he was aware that the Wiltshire County Council, in order to provide small holdings in the parish of-Avon, had been obliged to deprive four labourers of the houses which they occupied; and that the Wiltshire County Council and the Calne Rural District Council had both failed to secure fresh cottages for the displaced tenants; and whether the Board would see that, in all schemes in which the acquisition of cottages was involved, conditions were inserted as to the provision of fresh houses for the families displaced?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe labourers referred to received notice to quit from the late owner for the purpose of the sale. The Board have no power to take the-action suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. DAVID MASONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention had been called to the case of Joseph Parkins, of Priors Hardwick, who applied in 1907 to the Warwick County Council for a small holding, and was approved of as a suitable applicant, but who, after nearly three years' delay, was now informed by the county council that they could not provide him with a holding; and what steps the Board proposed to take?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYYes, Sir, I am, having further enquiry made into thin case.
§ Mr. DAVID MASONDoes that imply that some real steps will be taken to give this applicant some land?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI cannot tell my hon. Friend what is to take place until After we have heard the results of the inquiry.