§ Mr. Hewlettasked the Minister of Agriculture what measure of response has been shown by local authorities to his advice by circulars of 15th April and 23rd 1794W November, 1942, that they should arrange for the cultivation of the gardens of bombed or unoccupied and apparently ownerless houses; and whether members of the public are authorised to demand permission so to cultivate in appropriate cases?
Mr. HudsonSince 23rd November, 1942, borough urban and rural district councils have been empowered, without my consent in each individual case, to take over bombed sites for cultivation provided there was no evidence of cultivation and the owner or occupier could not be traced or was unable or unwilling to cultivate the land himself. I have no information as to the number of cases in which local authorities have exercised such powers, but my Department has given consent as regards some 7,50o sites, practically all of which were taken before the 23rd November, 1942. Application for permission to cultivate sites must be made through local authorities.