§ Mr. BRODIEasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what steps have been taken by the Surrey County Council to deal with the applications of the members of the Beddington Land Club for Small Holdings?
§ Sir. E. STRACHEY:The Board understand from the Clerk of the County Council that no applications for land had been received up to the 18th ult., from members, of the Beddington Land Club. If my hon. Friend will supply me with further particulars inquiry will be made.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked what is the present position of the applications of the members of the land club at Westerham, in Kent, for small holdings, in connection with which he made inquiries in November last?
Sir E. STRACHEY: We are informed that the County Council are awaiting information from the club as to its financial position, and that until this is received the Council are not in a position to approve the application.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked the hon. Member to explain why no inquiry of any sort has been held at Godstone by the Surrey County Council in connection with the applications of the members of the Godstone and South Godstone Land Clubs for small holdings; and whether the applicants at Godstone and South Godstone were asked to interview the small holdings sub-committee of the Surrey County Council at Oxted, which is three or four miles from their homes, at hours at which they would not, in the ordinary course of events, have-ceased work for the day?
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§ Sir E. STRACHEY:No application appears to have been received by the County Council from the land clubs at Godstone and South Godstone, but eight applications have been sent in from those parishes. These applicants were invited to attend a local inquiry held in the evening at Oxted between 6.30 and 9.30. The Board see no reason for taking exception to the arrangements made by the Council.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked whether the Board of Agriculture can say how many applicants for small holdings in England and Wales have actually obtained land up to 31st December last?
Sir E. STRACHEY: This information is not yet available, but it is being obtained and will be published in the annual report which is now in course of preparation.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked whether the Board, if they have not already done so, will call the attention of county councils, and particularly that of the Kent County Council, to the fact that the rent asked of small holders should be fixed with due regard to the rateable value of the land leased and to the rent previously paid for it?
§ Sir E. STRACHEY:The rent charged for small holdings must be based on the rent or price paid for the land by the County Council, and must be "such reasonable amount as will, in their opinion, guard them against loss." The considerations to which my hon. Friend refers are required by the Act to be taken into account by a valuer when fixing the rent to be paid by a council for land compulsorily hired.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked why the Hertfordshire County Council have taken no steps to supply land to Thomas Willson and the other members of the Watford Land Club?
§ Sir E. STRACHEY:The County Council appear to have used every endeavour to obtain land, but they have not yet been successful owing to the high price of land near Watford. They are considering if land can be obtained by compulsory hiring.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked what steps have been taken to provide land for the applicants for small holdings at Denmead, in Hampshire?
§ Sir E. STRACHEY:We are informed by the Clerk of the County Council that three applications were made for small 1706W holdings at Denmead, but the applicants did not attend the local inquiry to which they were invited, and only one of them forwarded the information asked for by the Council. This application is still under consideration, together with five others which have recently been received. The Council are taking steps to acquire and supply the land required.
§ Mr. BRODIEasked whether the Board will obtain from the county councils of Kent and Surrey a list of the members of the sub-committees appointed to interview applicants for small holdings, stating the occupation or profession of each member, and giving, in cases where the members are landholders, the extent and situation of their holdings?
§ Sir E. STRACHEY:Perhaps I may suggest that my hon. Friend should himself apply to the county councils for the information he desires. They will no doubt be happy to supply him with it.