§ Mr. TOULMINasked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he can state the number of applicants for small holdings in Lancashire, with the quantity of land asked for; how many applicants have been approved after inquiry by the county council, and if any intimation has been conveyed to them; how long it is since the first applicants were approved; what steps the council has taken to provide land, and 981W how many of the applicants have obtained land as the results of the efforts of the council; what proportion of the applicants the special Commissioner has so far approved had been approved already by the county council committee; how many public inquiries have been held by the special Commissioner; what action he has taken to secure the provision of land; and whether any land is being provided as the result of his negotiations?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe number of applicants is 230 for 1,900 acres. One hundred and sixty approved applicants were informed at the inquiries held by the county council that efforts would be made to find land for them, if practicable, in the localities in which it was required. The first applicants were approved in April, 1908. The county council endeavoured to acquire suitable land by agreement, but, except at Rishton, where 15 applicants have been supplied with 102 acres, and at Marton, where 64 acres will be available for about 12 applicants, the land could not be obtained at a price which would enable it to be let to the applicants at rents which they were prepared to pay. Eighty per cent, of the applicants so far approved by the special Commissioner had already been approved by the county council committee. The remaining 20 per cent. are chiefly new applicants not examined by the county council committee. The special Commissioner had held 20 public inquiries, after each of which he has made inquiry as to the land obtainable in the locality. At Whittington, near Kirby Lonsdale, two land-owners have voluntarily provided 30 acres for three applicants at the request of the special Commissioner, and he has recommended that the county council should acquire 232 acres at Banks, near Southport, by compulsion if necessary.