HC Deb 20 March 1933 vol 276 cc27-8
44. Mr. LIDDALL

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now prepared to make available the grants to local authorities authorised under Sections 14 and 16 of the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Act, 1931, in order to secure the realisa- tion this year of schemes for land cultivation by unemployed persons?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Major Elliot)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on Thursday last to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Birkenhead East (Mr. White), of which I am sending him a copy.

49. Mr. GEORGE HALL (for Sir WILLIAM JENKINS)

asked the Minister of Agriculture what number of classes is held in all the counties of Wales, giving each county separately, and the number of persons attending under the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Act, 1931; and what grant is being paid for such classes?

Major ELLIOT

I am not clear as to what part of the Act the hon. Member is referring. Section 5 (Sub-section 5) enables arrangements to be made for the training of unemployed persons desirous of obtaining smallholdings under that Section, but as has already been announced the Government has not found it possible to provide the necessary funds to enable the Act to be operated.

50. Mr. G. HALL (for Sir WILLIAM JENKINS)

asked the Minister of Agriculture what grant he is giving to local authorities in Wales to provide seeds, fertilisers, etc., to unemployed persons as allotment holders, etc., giving each county separately?

Major ELLIOT

No grants are being made to local authorities for the purposes indicated, but a grant is being made out of the Development Fund to the Society of Friends to supplement funds subscribed privately. The maximum amount of grant is £12,500, and on this basis the total sum available for this season in Great Britain would be not less than £27,500. I am unable to say how much of the grant is available for Wales, but it is understood that all applications are being met.

Mr. MORGAN JONES

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how that amount of £12,500 compares with that of previous years?

Major ELLIOT

Not without notice.