§ 1. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Northumberland County Council has been refused the request to purchase West Duddo Farm, Stannington, for the purpose of its development as small holdings.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. J. B. Godber)In present circumstances, my right hon. Friend's view is that such capital as is available for expenditure by smallholdings authorities should be devoted to schemes for the improvement of existing holdings rather than to the acquisition of estates for the creation of new holdings.
§ Mr. OwenAm I to understand from that reply that it is only because of prevailing circumstances that the request has been refused, and that the Minister might still be prepared to consider the suggestion of the county council that the farm be secured on lease until such time as circumstances permit its purchase and subsequent development?
§ Mr. GodberAs the hon. Member knows, I have personally given a great deal of consideration to this particular case. I do not think I can hold out such hope to him. This is merely deferring the question of expenditure and at present we have a heavy backlog of other expenditure in relation to smallholdings. I think it would be wrong for me to pretend that there is any hope which I can foresee in the immediate future of acceding to this request.
Mr. T. WilliamsAre we to understand that the Government have closed dawn on any possibility of acquiring smallholdings anywhere, apart from Northumberland?
§ Mr. GodberNo, Sir. I am grateful to the right hon. Member for giving me an opportunity to make the point clear. I was speaking in reference to a particular case. The Government have not put a blanket over this question at all, but in general we would need to be very well satisfied that it was right to spend money on new smallholdings rather than on developing existing establishments.