75. Major MALONEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agri- 924 culture whether he is aware that allotment holders on land acquired under the Cultivation of Lands Order at Vale Road, Tottenham, were removed on 24th November, 1919, as it was stated that building would take place about 29th November, 1919, and compensation out of public funds was paid by the Ministry; whether this land is still vacant; why the Ministry's Regulation of 23rd May, 1919, providing that if building does not take place within a month the land may be re-entered for allotments, was not carried into effect; and what action he proposes to take in this case?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)In answer to the first part of the question. I am aware that the facts are substantially as stated. When possession of the land was given up and compensation was paid, it was understood that building operations would be commenced immediately, but subsequently, owing to different arrangements by the contracting parties, the land was put up for sale, and arrangements are now nearly completed. In the Circular of 23rd May last the Council were invited to consider whether they should, in the event of building operations not being commenced within one month of possession, exercise their compulsory powers for the acquisition of land. The Council did not, apparently, consider such action desirable in this case, and, in view of the fact that building will shortly commence, the Ministry does not feel justified in urging them to take any action at the present time.