§ 32. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the lang agent of his Department at Durrington threatens to withdraw allotment land from the parish council of Ludgershall, Wiltshire, unless they agree to terms which would necessitate a doubling of the allotment holders' rent; how the present rent compares per acre with that of the farm land of which it has been a part; whether he is aware that the reversion of the allotment land to the farm would mean less revenue to the State as well as less food for the people; and whether he will give an assurance that no higher rent will be asked for allotment land than for ordinary farm land of the same district, quality, and character?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)The position is that at present a tenant of the War Department at Ludgershall has sublet about 13 acres of his farm on yearly tenancies for allotments, partly to the parish council at £1 an acre exclusive of rates, and partly to the allotment holders direct at £2 6s. 8d. an acre inclusive of rates. The War Department have been asked by their tenant to resume this portion of his farm, and he has given notice to the parish council and the allotment holders to quit. When the present tenancies expire the War Department have offered to let the whole 13 acres to 278 the parish council on a yearly tenancy, or a seven years' lease, as may be preferred, at a rent of £1 10s. an acre. They are advised that this is a very reasonable rent; though higher than the rent for the whole farm of which it now forms part and which contains a good deal of permanent pasture: it is considerably less than the average for allotments in the neighbourhood. I cannot give any undertaking which is inconsistent with the War Department's obligation to charge not less than a fair rent based on the user of the land.
§ Mr. HURDThen may we take it that no higher rent will be asked for allotment land than for ordinary farm land of the same district, quality and character?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThat is the same question to which I have replied in the rather long answer I have given.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask why the War Department have put obstacles in the way of intensive cultivation of land by the raising of rents?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is quite wrong. The War Department are not putting obstacles in the way. On the contrary, they are offering to let land to the parish council for the very purpose of providing allotments.