HC Deb 21 November 1911 vol 31 cc1016-7
Mr. BRIDGEMAN

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state what was the number of new applicants for small holdings in 1910 and what has been the number of new applicants in 1911 up to date, and how many of the applications of 1911 have been dealt with?

Mr. LEWIS

The number of new applicants in 1910 was 4,003. The information required for the current year is not yet available, but it will be obtained and published in the Annual Report of proceedings under the Act.

Viscount HELMSLEY

Will the hon. Gentleman say when the Report will be published?

Mr. HERBERT LEWIS

It will be published in due course.

Mr. LANE-FOX

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the applications for small holdings have increased more rapidly since the appointment of the six new Commissioners?

Mr. LEWIS

I must ask for notice of that question.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

asked how many of the applications for small holdings outstanding at the end of 1910 had been satisfied; how many had been withdrawn; and how many of those applications remain to be dealt with by the Commissioners?

Mr. LEWIS

Full information on these points is not yet available, but it will be obtained and published in the Annual Report of the Board of proceedings under the Act, which will be issued as early as possible after the end of the year.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if any persons who had been provided with small holdings under the Act of 1908 have given up their holdings; if so, how many; and whether vacancies so created have been filled by new tenants?

Mr. LEWIS

Up to the 31st December last 110 statutory small holders had for one reason or another quitted their holdings. So far as my right hon. Friend has been able to ascertain, all the holdings have been readily relet.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether, in the event of its being proved that the services of the new Small Holdings Commissioners are superfluous, the Department will consider the advisability of transferring them to the work of the insurance scheme?