§ 69. Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state the number of districts in which allotments have been offered unsuccessfully to un employed men; and whether his Department has any information to show the actual demand which exists generally among unemployed men for such allotments?
§ Mr. HAYESMy right hon. Friend is not in a position to give the hon. Member any precise information on the points to which he refers. He has heard of very few districts where the offer of allotments 1013 to unemployed persons has been entirely unsuccessful, though there are many districts where the response has been comparatively small. No attempt has been made to collect information from the large number of local authorities concerned—over 1,100 in urban areas alone—as to the demand in their areas, but the fact that in spite of the very late start over 64,000 men have been assisted with the provision of seeds and other requirements shows that the demand is very considerable.
§ Mr. SMITHAs it would appear inconceivable that men who unfortunately are without employment for a time would not be wishful to take advantage of the allotment scheme offered, would the hon. Gentleman ask the Minister of Agriculture to;consult with the Minister of Labour and find out what is the difficulty that prevents this scheme being boomed?