§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Vacant Land Cultivation Society has provided means whereby a number of families have got opportunity to grow their own food on land within the metropolitan area which would otherwise have been unused; and whether this method of reducing unemployment has the approval of the Local Government Board?
The HON. MEMBERfurther asked whether an application made to him by the Central (Unemployed) Body for a grant of £298 8s. to be expended in the clearance of unoccupied pieces of land in Westminster, loaned by the London County Council to the Vacant Land Cultivation Society, has been refused; and, if so, on what grounds?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Local Government Board have not had occasion to express1626W any opinion on the method of providing work adopted by the society to which my hon. Friend refers; but I am always glad to hear of any suitable means whereby unemployment may be reduced. In the particular case mentioned in the second question I found that the London County Council, though willing to let the society have the use of the land temporarily, did not propose to make any payment for the work of clearing it, the cost of which they considered would in ordinary circumstances be borne by the lessee and not by them. I did not feel able to authorise the payment of money from the Parliamentary Grant for work of this character.