§ Colonel IVOR PHILIPPSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state the number of applications received by the Hampshire County Council for small holdings; the number accepted as applicants; the number for whom small holdings have been provided; the average of such holdings and the number of accepted applicants now awaiting holdings; and what steps are being taken to meet their requirements?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYSix hundred and twenty-three applications have been received, and 298 of them have been provisionally approved. Seven hundred acres have been acquired and allotted to forty-five of the applicants. The county council have made compulsory orders for the acquisition of an additional area of about 175 acres, and they are also negotiating for land in different parts of the county.
§ Colonel IVOR PHILIPPSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of 778W Agriculture whether the Hampshire County Council has reported to the Board of Agriculture that there has been considerable difficulty in obtaining suitable land for the purpose of small holdings in the Itchen district; and, if so, what steps have been taken to remove the difficulties and obtain the necessary land?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Owing to the geographical situation of the Itchen Urban District the area of land available for small holdings is practically confined to the eastern side of it. We are informed by the clerk of the county council that negotiations have been going on for the acquisition of land there, but that so far it has not been possible to obtain any on reasonable terms.