HL Deb 14 March 1985 vol 461 cc231-2

3.21 p.m.

Lord Wallace of Coslany

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what records local authorities are expected to maintain in the management and renting of allotment plots for cultivation by tenants.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, there is no statutory requirement for allotment authorities to maintain any allotment records. Each is free to decide for itself whether and in what form such records are kept.

Lord Wallace of Coslany

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I fully anticipated his Answer? Is he aware that the records to be maintained are quite simple: the allotment site itself; the total number of plots; plots to let or on offer; vacant plots; waiting lists and notices to improve, or notices to quit. That is all that is needed. It is quite simple, quite elementary. Should any allotment society wish to do it themselves, they can do so. Is the noble Lord further aware that I have in my hand a quarterly report to a local authority of a joint meeting of allotment tenants representatives and councillors, giving all the facts in full detail, including financial ones, at a later stage? So there is no problem whatever and no expense to local authorities.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I do not know whether or not the figures on the piece of paper held out to your Lordships by the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, just now, and which I have not seen, are correct. If they are, of course there is no need for me to answer this question. However, as far as the noble Lord's first supplementary goes, I should expect authorities to keep records of the area of their allotment gardens and waiting lists of the people who apply for allotments.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, does the noble Lord not appreciate that this is perhaps one of the most benign questions that he will ever be asked to answer? There is no malice or hidden intent behind it. Surely the Minister appreciates that. What my noble friend is seeking to do is to find not indifference but encouragement by the Minister, appreciating the non- statutory nature of what has been requested. Surely, what has been requested is to invite local authorities to keep, on a sound footing, records which would be valuable not only today but also for many years to come. Surely, the Minister can give modest encouragement to local authorities to provide this kind of information.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I am very grateful for the way in which the noble Lord, Lord Graham, has phrased this supplementary question. However, I have already made it quite clear what records I should expect local authorities to keep in this matter.