§ 65. Mr. HUGH MORRISONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what steps the Board propose to take to provide small holdings for the large number of ex-soldier applicants in the villages of Bulford and Sunnington; and why the Board did not consult either the chairman of the Wiltshire County Council on the small holdings committee, in accordance with Section I of the Small Holdings Colonies (Amendment) Act, 1918, before they decided to start a small holdings colony in the district?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIt is primarily the duty of the Wiltshire County Council (of the Small Holdings Committee of which my hon. Friend is Chairman) to acquire land for their local applicants, although, as has already been intimated to the Committee, the Board are prepared to accept for their Farm Settlement at Amesbury any local ex-Service men who are suitable for the holdings available. With regard to the latter part of the question, I am informed that at the vendor's express wish the officers of the Board regarded the early negotiations for the purchase of this land as strictly confidential. At a later stage, however, and before the purchase was completed, the matter was discussed with members of the Wiltshire Small Holdings Committee, but I regret to find that in this particular case it was not brought before the Committee formally.