§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has considered the formation of a Committee to provide sufficient land in the form of allotments to produce food for each household; and, if not, whether such a Committee will be formed with all speed to consider this important subject?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe Board possess the necessary powers for the provision of land for allotments, and have delegated them to the agricultural executive committees and to the urban local authorities. I can assure the hon. Member that these powers are being exercised freely wherever there is a demand for more land for allotments.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether local councils can be given power in future to borrow money for the specific purpose of the freehold purchase of land in order to lease it for food production?
§ Mr. PROTHEROPower to purchase freehold land for small holdings and allotments is already provided by the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1908. It is at present in abeyance owing to the fact that the Government have discontinued making advances out of the Local Loans Fund for such purposes during the War.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will provide and arrange for an Allotment Department of the Board of Agricultural Organisation, so that allotment-holders throughout the country may be able to obtain all necessary information without having to go through various county and local committees?
§ Mr. PROTHEROA special branch of the Food Production Department of the Board is already charged with the duty of promoting the allotment movement. Every information as to allotments will be supplied on application to the Director-General of Food Production.
§ Sir J. JARDINEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in order to provide for extension of tillage and increased employment on the land for men returning from the fighting services at the end of the War, he will introduce any legislation to provide that, where the land of commons and other wastes would become the sole property of lords of manors because of the commoners disap- 310W pearing or losing their rights, the benefit of such escheats of property shall be in whole or part for the advantage of the State or the remaining commoners in connection with improvement of the land or other agricultural expenses?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe Board has no information to show that common land is likely to become the sole property of lords of manors owing to the cause indicated in the question. I do not, therefore, see any occasion to introduce legislation on the subject. But the point raised shall be carefully watched.
§ Sir J. JARDINEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, to provide means of living for men returning from the fighting services and their wives and children, he intends to propose any Amendments of existing legislation in order to simply cheapen and increase the number of small holdings in Scotland, or whether he intends to postpone such reform of the land laws till after the War is over?
§ Mr. MUNROThe Government have this matter under their urgent consideration, and their intentions will be announced without any avoidable delay.