§ 47. Mr. Butcherasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the widespread demand from ex-Service men and agricultural workers who desire small holdings, he will now recommence the collection of statistics and information on this subject from county councils and county agricultural and executive committees.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsMy right hon. Friend does not propose to trouble county councils to provide statistical returns, unless it appears that such returns would serve a useful purpose. He is discussing in the near future with representatives of the County Councils Association the whole question of the provision of small holdings after the war.
§ 48. Mr. Butcherasked the Minister of Agriculture how many ex-Servicemen of the 1914–1918 war were settled on smallholdings established with financial assistance from his Ministry.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe number of ex-Servicemen settled up to the end of 1924 on holdings provided by county councils in England and Wales under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, and on estates provided directly by my Department who were still in occupation at that date was approximately 17,000.
§ Mr. ButcherIn view of the success which has attended so many of these centres, thanks to the policy of the Department, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that similar facilities will be available for ex-Servicemen after this war?
§ Mr. WilliamsI could not guarantee that our experience after the last war is likely to be repeated.