§ Mr. CAPEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the desire on the part of the allotment holders of Barrow-in-Furness to secure co-option of representatives of the local allotment society on the allotments committee of the council; whether co-option has been granted by other councils in the country who have appreciated the assistance thus rendered by the allotment representatives; and whether he will represent to the Barrow Council the advisability of co-opting representatives who have intimate knowledge of matters regarding administration of the allotments?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the remainder of the question, my Department has urged local authorities to co-opt on to their allotment committees representatives of local allotment holders, and many authorities in England and Wales have adopted this course with beneficial results. Special representations have recently been made by the Ministry to the Barrow-in-Furness Council on this subject, but the council has refused to co-opt, and as the matter is one entirely for the discretion of the council I have no power to intervene further.