HC Deb 14 December 1916 vol 88 cc866-7W
Sir HOWELL DAVIES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that early this year about fifty acres of unused land, mostly in the hands of building contractors whose work is suspended owing to the War, was offered rent-free to the Bristol allotments committee for the growing of vegetables, etc., but that such offers could not be accepted by the committee as they were not able to make the philanthropic owners immune from obligation under the Compensation for Crops Act; and whether the Board is taking any action to overcome this difficulty, in view of the possibility of similar offers being made in Bristol and elsewhere in time for the spring planting?

Mr. ACLAND

The Board are aware of the circumstances and have recently obtained powers under the Defence of the Realm Regulation to overcome the legal difficulty in question.

Mr. ELLIS DAVIES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state what course the Government propose to take with a view to increasing the quantity of land to be brought under cultivation; and whether it is intended to empower the county councils to take possession of disused land and of land not under cultivation, and re-let it as allotments or small holdings?

Mr. ACLAND

By a Regulation which was made by Order in Council under the Defence of the Realm Act on the 5th inst the Board are empowered to take possession of any unoccupied land and to cultivate it or arrange for its cultivation. Generally speaking the Board will not control the details of cultivation, these being left to the local authorities, and they have now made an Order authorising all allotment authorities in urban areas to exercise on their behalf the powers conferred by the Regulation. County councils are not allotment authorities, and in most cases there is little or no labour available in rural areas which could not more profitably be applied to land at present under cultivation. If, however, any county councils desire to make use of the powers given by the Regulation and will submit a scheme to the Board it will receive careful consideration.