§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the results of the Wimbledon War Agricultural Committee in producing foodstuffs; and whether he will take steps to 1660W induce various local bodies to act vigorously so that plots of land now lying idle may be utilised in growing foodstuffs?
§ Mr. ACLANDYes, Sir, very good work has been done by the Wimbledon Committee. It is most desirable that use should be made of vacant plots of land for producing food, and the Board of Agriculture has taken a considerable amount of pains to encourage action in this direction. The President of the Board addressed a letter in January to the mayors of all boroughs and county boroughs which drew attention to the subject. A special leaflet of the Board on the formation of war food societies has had a large circulation. War agricultural committees have been asked to devote attention to it, and a Grant has been made to the Vacant Land Cultivation Society. I believe that very fair results have followed this action in many places, and special activity has been shown in the county of Surrey.