§ 33. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability, in view of the serious unemployment, of facilitating, as they did during the War, the temporary acquisition of allotments in and round towns by persons who are unemployed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government are strongly in favour of the development of the allotment movement. 1287 As was explained in the answer to the hon. and gallant Member's question on the 11th instant, compulsory powers have been conferred on local authorities enabling them to acquire land for allotments on 14 days' notice, and the Ministry of Agriculture is urging local authorities to exercise their powers where-ever necessary. The emergency powers under the Defence of the Realm Act which were exercised during the War have been repealed, and could not be restored without fresh legislation.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, under the Emergency Powers Act, the Government has again taken powers to acquire land, and could not that Act be used to facilitate the acquisition of land, not in permanency, but during the crisis in this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should like notice of that question. I am not sure that we shall have those powers. It is obviously desirable, in view of the unemployment in the country, that healthy employment of this kind should be provided. If the local authorities can see their way, I earnestly trust that they will do their best, as it will undoubtedly help to improve the general conditions.
§ Mr. W. CARTERIs the Prime Minister aware that there would be thousands more applicants for these allotments if they were given some security of tenure?
§ Mr. WATERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some people today are demanding the necessary small holdings and allotments, and that parish councils and county councils have refused the applications, and in those cases will the Ministry of Agriculture be prepared to override such a decision?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not sure that that is desirable. The best way, undoubtedly, of dealing with this situation would be to interest the local authorities in the subject. They understand the local conditions. It is very difficult for a central department to override the authority of the people who know the conditions. Besides, they would be able to get the consent and co-operation of the authorities concerned if they take the thing in hand. What is really 1288 wanted is local pressure in order to induce, the same movement that we had during the War, which provided a good deal of useful employment and increased the food supplies of the country.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that just the land that is wanted for these allotments is extremely expensive, and that the only way to get that land used is to allow people to use it temporarily, without forcing the local authorities to buy it at its very high price? Could not steps be taken under the Emergency Powers Act to inform local authorities that they were entitled to take up this land temporarily for the purposes of allotments?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI agree that we could get it cheaply if it is wanted for temporary purposes, and that, I should have thought, they could do. Whether it is desirable to send a communication to them I will consider.