§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the First Commissioner of Works upon what grounds he has decided to give notice to the allotment-holders at Bushey Park and Primrose Hill to quit in February, 1920, whereas holders in Kensington Gar--dens and Greenwich Park are to remain for a year longer; whether he is aware, that the allotment-holders at Bushey Park occupy only 1 per cent. of the total area and at Primrose Hill only 2 per cent.; that the decision to close down these allotments has created considerable public indignation; that the Hampton and Teddington Councils are in favour of continuing the tenure at Bushey Park, and 1348W Hampstead and St. Pancras Councils are in favour of extended tenure at Primrose Hill; and that a public meeting at Hampstead Town Hall on 28th October, convened by the Mayor of Hampstead, adopted a resolution calling for extension of tenure; and whether he will reconsider his decision and receive a deputation from the National Union of Allotment Holders to represent the case of all these holders for extended tenure?
§ Sir A. MONDI have given most careful consideration to the questions raised by my hon. Friend. The sole reason for the notice to quit in February, 1920, to the allotment-holders in Bushey Park was on account of an urgent appeal from the London County Council for some playing ground for the children suffering from tuberculosis; for whose benefit the King has been graciously pleased to lend Upper Lodge, which is contiguous to these allotments. As regards Primrose Hill, the land occupied by these allotment-holders was an active centre for children's games before the War, and I consider that the health and open-air amusement of the children in the poorer quarters of London is an even more important factor, now that the food situation is less critical than it was during the War, than the cultivation of land in the public parks. I have already received a deputation of representatives of all the allotment-holders in the Royal parks, including those in the parks now in question, and regret that I cannot reconsider my decision. No useful purpose, therefore, would be served by my receiving another deputation as suggested.