§ Sir K. WOODasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Middlesex County Council propose to dispossess allotment holders on land known as the Ride allotments, Brentford; that the urban district council has opposed the taking away of these allotments; that other land equally suitable in the district may be obtained at less cost by the Middlesex County Council for their purpose; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this case, with a view to continuance of the land for allotments?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI am informed that the Middlesex County Council propose to acquire the land in question from its present owner, with the object of re-housing the tenants to be dispossessed consequent on the construction of the Great West Road through this district. It would, in my opinion, cause serious injury to the allotment movement if the Ministry were to intervene to prevent a private landowner selling his land to the best advantage merely because it was occupied temporarily with allotments. I am, therefore, unable to take the action suggested in the last part of my hon. Friend's question.