§ 28 Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he has given consideration to the memorandum submitted to him on 29th March, 1939, by the National Allotments Society; and can he make a statement on this urgent question;
(2) whether he will instruct all municipal authorities to purchase or appropriate land that is suitable for allotments, and take steps to give them State aid for that purpose;
(3) whether he will inaugurate a campaign at once, to encourage an extension of allotment holdings, and make arrangements for the co-operation in all localities of committees of the municipality, allotment associations and trades councils, in order to encourage and stimulate the production of food for the people?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe memorandum to which the hon. Member refers elaborated the main proposals previously put forward by the National Allotments Society based on the provision of financial assistance by the Exchequer towards the purchase of land for allotments by local authorities and allotment associations. As I stated in answer to the question put to me by the hon. Member on 20th March, the Government cannot see its way to introduce legislation on the lines suggested. With regard to the purchase or appropriation of land suitable for allotments, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter addressed by my Department, at the end of March, to all urban allotment authorities. My Department will continue to encourage the extension of the allotment movement and to stimulate the responsible local authorities.