§ 48. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Agriculture how many allotment holders have been deprived of their allotments since the war; how many have given them up voluntarily; and what is being done to encourage the growth of vegetables to make up for this land going out of cultivation.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI regret that the figures required are not available. Although the total number of allotments is now considerably less than the peak war-time figure, there has been a steady increase since the war in the number of permanent and privately owned allotments. Local authorities have been asked to do all that is possible to provide alternative plots for displaced allotment holders.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that there is an impression abroad that 2979 the number of allotments has dropped since the war by half a million, and that as a consequence there is a loss in the production of vegetables, and what is he proposing to do to make up that loss?
§ Sir T. DugdaleIt is very difficult to get accurate figures, but since 1948 there has been an increase in the total acreage of land used for allotments. So far as the vegetable position is concerned, I think it is agreed that, generally, the production of vegetables is adequate, apart from potatoes, in respect of which a special appeal has been made to farmers, allotment holders and gardeners to plant more this spring for consumption next year.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that the figures I have given regarding the reduction of allotment land come from men who have studied this problem, and who are concerned that the reduction in the number of allotments is very considerable indeed.
§ Sir T. DugdaleMy point is that since 1948 there has been an increase. I have to agree that there has been a big reduction since the peak war-time period.