§ Mr. RICHARDSONasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that, in the month of December, 1907, William Gretton, F. Binch, J. Jarvis, A. Meades, William 310W Binch, and D. Binch, all of whom are agricultural labourers or cottagers in the village of Calverton, Nottinghamshire, applied to the Notts County Council for small holdings varying from 14 to 40 acres; that they met a sub-committee of the county council at Newark-on-Trent, on the 13th of May, 1908, in reference thereto, but that nothing has been done up to the present time by the county council in the matter; and will he take such measures as he thinks necessary to compel the Notts County Council to grant the request of these men?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe applicants for small holdings to whom my hon. Friend refers have recently written to us. We are in communication with the county council on the matter, and if the council cannot acquire land for the approved applicants by voluntary arrangement we shall press them to use their compulsory powers.