§ 38. Mr. Lyonsasked the Minister of Agriculture the total acreage of land let for the purposes of allotment holdings and the number of allotment holders at 1st March, 1937, or the nearest convenient date; and the acreage owned by allotment societies for the use of their members at a similar date?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. W. S. Morrison)The latest date for which returns for the whole of England and Wales are available is 31st December, 1934. The estimated total acreage of land let for allotments at that date was 134,000 acres, and the number of allotment holders, 936,000. Land owned by allotment societies is not distinguished in the returns, but I am informed that the acreage of land owned by societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts and let as allotments in England and Wales was, in 1935, 8,200 acres.
§ Mr. LyonsIn view of the great importance of this question to allotment holders, can my right hon. Friend try 606 to obtain some figures for a more recent date than the ones he has given us to-day?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir, if my hon. Friend will let me know precisely the figures which he wants I will see whether any are available, but these are the latest reliable figures which I have. I can assure him that I do appreciate the importance of keeping the situation under review.