§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what is the total area of land acquired for allotments by the London County Council under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908; how many allotments have been so acquired; and what are the total receipts and expenditure entailed by the council in connection with allotments taken under that Act?
Sir ARTHUR BOSCAWENMore than 130 acres of land are let by the London County Council as "permanent" allotments to approximately 1,300 tenants. The accounts of the London County Council are printed and published, but in the short time available the Board have not been able to obtain the most recent figures.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what is the total number of allotments acquired under the Cultivation of Lands Order; and how many of these allotments have, since their acquisition under the Order, been obtained by local authorities on lease under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, in accordance with the Board's recommendation in the Circular of November, 1918?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe total number of allotments acquired under the Cultivation of Lands Order is estimated at about 400,000, but the Board have no recent complete returns on the subject, neither have they obtained as yet the information which would enable them to answer the second part of the question.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board has ceased to acquire land for allotments under the Cultivation of Lands Order?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo, Sir. But the local authorities have been advised wherever practicable to exercise their power under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, for the purpose of acquiring land permanently for allotments.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Acquisition of Land Act, 1916, confers upon the Board the right to retain possession of land taken for allotments under the Cultivation of Lands Order until the expiry of two years from the end of the War; whether the Board 2272W will avail themselves of the provision enabling possession to be retained for a longer period than two years; whether the Act referred to gives to the Board power to purchase compulsorily any land so held; and whether the Board will avail themselves of this provision in appropriate cases?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe reply to all parts of the question is in the affirmative except that the Board will only retain possession where the land is not required for building or other special purpose, or where the compensation payable, including rent, would exceed the value to the nation of the food produced. The allotment holders, now that the War is over, must be prepared to pay reasonable rents. They cannot expect to continue to hold their allotments at the nominal rents which were charged in many cases during the War. It will be necessary to take into account this question of rent in deciding whether the Board will retain possession.