§ 69. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate number of allotments now in existence 37 as compared with June, 1922; and whether, in view of the value of this cultivation, both from the point of view of health and providing cheap food, he is still stimulating the extension of the movement near industrial centres?
§ Major BARNSTONI have been asked to reply. The last date up to which returns were obtained as to the number of allotments in England and Wales was the 31st December, 1920, when the number was estimated to be 1,330,000. It is proposed to call for further returns at the end of the present year, but meanwhile it is estimated that the number at present is approximately 1,000,000. In reply to the last part of the question, the Ministry has done and is doing everything possible in the direction of encouraging urban authorities to use their powers of providing allotments for their residents, and my right hon. Friend has every reason to suppose that these authorities are alive to the national and social importance of the allotment movement.