§ Sir K1NGSLEY WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Willesden Urban District Council intend to remove 270 allotment-holders from their allotments at Stonebridge; that the reason advanced is that the land is required for housing; that the land was formerly a sewage farm and is unsuitable for building; that there is other land in the district suitable for building without displacing the allotment-holders; that most of the houses at present have no garden space and the allotments arc necessary; and whether he will take action, with a view to getting the Willesden Council to select an alternative site and retain the land at Stonebridge as permanent allotments?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Board are aware of the circumstances to which the question refers. They are having inquiries made into the case, the result of which will be communicated to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. HURDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in the interests of food production and the welfare of the workers, he will cause an order to be issued for the continuance of allotments on golf courses for at least another two years instead of allowing them to lapse, as in the case of many golf courses round London, such as the Tooting Bee course, at the end of the present season; and whether he will adopt this course, in view of the amount of labour and material which workers have put into these allotments and in view also 77W of the impossibility, in most cases, of providing alternative land in the immediate neighbourhoods?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIt is not practicable to make a general order that allotments on golf courses shall be retained for another two years. In some cases retention of the land would involve the Board in a heavy liability for compensation to the club and consequently each case must be considered on its merits. With regard to the Tooting Beccourse I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to his previous question on the 15th instant.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what are the rents per rod per annum charged by the Lambeth Borough Council to allotment holders on the following groups of allotments under their control in the district of West Norwood, namely, Portobello, Scotts' Field, Mitchell's Field, Holderness House, and Uffington Road; and what are the rents per rod per annum paid by the Lambeth Borough Council to the owners of the groups of allotments named?
Sir A. BOSCAWEN:
Allotment Group. Rent per rod paid by Allotment Holders. Rent per rod paid by Owners or Tenants. S. d. d. Portobello … 1 0 7.06 Scotts' Field … 1 1 10.24 Mitchell's Field … Holderness House … 0 8.4 7.16 Uffington Road … 0 8.27 8.27 Remarks.—The difference in each case is partly accounted for by loss of land due to paths; also to some small initial outlay on keys and repairs to fences.
With regard to the Portobello group of allotments, the Council have to pay the tenant the sum of £23 12s. l ld. for loss
78Wof hay crop and any surplus receipts help to a slight extent to recoup this expenditure.