§ 17. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the decrease in acreage devoted to allotments over the past ten years; to what extent the quantity and value of food produce from this source has decreased; and to what extent facilities for the provision of land for allotments are now being adopted by local authorities.
Mr. AmoryThere are no reliable statistics covering the past ten years, but since 1948 the total acreage under allotments has decreased from 107,000 to 101,000, and in consequence the quantity of food produced from this source is now lower. The fall is due to a decrease of 9,000 acres cultivated under the emergency war-time arrangements, and of 3,000 acres cultivated as allotments on private land, which together have more 1633 than offset an increase of nearly 6,000 acres in the land provided by local authorities for cultivation as statutory allotments.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the Minister appreciate that there is a great demand for allotments, particularly in outer urban areas? What is he doing to stimulate local authorities to secure land for this purpose?
Mr. AmoryI agree with the hon. Member that we want to meet every demand we can for allotments. He will realise, however, how extremely difficult it is to find land in many cases, and I think it is very much to the credit of local authorities that they have increased the area of permanent allotments. I will do everything I can to encourage them to do so.