§ 78. Mr. J. DAVISONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that certain allotment holders at Enfield Lane, Sheffield, have received notices to quit; whether those holders, through great industry, have brought this hitherto derelict land into a good state of cultivation; whether they were per- 1879 mitted by the municipal authorities to keep pigs on the land in the interests of food production and that the owner raised no objection, but that it is assumed the reason for the notices to quit is that the holders have taken advantage of the municipal authorities' permission; whether he is aware that in consequence of the actions of the person who holds the lease of this land the holders have suffered great annoyance and there is considerable unrest in the district, and whether he will take immediate steps to have these notices to quit withdrawn and to protect these allotment holders in this working-class district?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Ministry has ascertained that the allotments in question are let direct by a private individual and consequently the Ministry has no power to interfere with regard to any notices to quit which have been given. Any difficulties appear to have arisen as a result of differences between two local allotment societies, and the Ministry will arrange for one of its inspectors to visit Sheffield to see if it is possible for some arrangement to be arrived at agreeable to all the parties concerned.