73. Sir H. COWANasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps, if any, have been taken by him with regard to the action of the Oxford City Council and freemen of Oxford in letting for a period of 10 years, for allotment, purposes, 20 acres of the children's playground section of the common known as the Port Meadow, temporarily appropriated for cultivation during the late War; and whether, seeing that the council were bound to restore such land to the common to the satisfaction of the Minister, he will inquire into the decision of the council to appropriate an additional portion of the Port Meadow in defiance of the statutory provisions for the protection of commons contained in the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, and the Allotments Act, 1922?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)The powers of the Oxford City Council to appropriate the 20 acres of Port Meadow, to which my hon. Friend refers, expired on the 25th March, 1923, and the Ministry requested the council to take immediate steps to obtain an alternative site or sites for the allotment holders then in occupation of this land. I am enquiring into the present position as regards this land and also into the decision of the council to appropriate an additional portion of Port Meadow and will let my hon. Friend know the result of my inquiries.
§ Mr. R. HUDSONIs my right hon. Friend aware that Port Meadow is mentioned in Doomsday Book, and has been a common for the last 1,000 years, and will he take steps to see that it is not used for other than common purposes?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThe Oxford City Council were warned by the Mayor when they came to this decision that they were acting illegally and we are taking up the matter.