Captain BROWNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state who is the authority for authorising the payment of claims for ploughing-out losses that were inadvertently not submitted by 31st July last, in view of the fact that the Ministry state they have no power to do this?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThere is no authority which can make a payment in respect of a claim submitted after the date in question.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Ministry have power to provide allotments in the case of default by a county council, borough council, and urban district council; whether there is a similar power in a case of default by the council of a county borough; and, if not, whether it is the intention of the Ministry to propose an Amendment of the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, to provide such power?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIn reply to the first part of the question, the Minister has power, under Section 3 (1) of the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, up to the 19th August, 1922, when he is satisfied that in any county the council are not providing land to be leased to a parish council or a parish meeting for the provision of allotments to such extent as in the opinion of the Ministry is desirable, to acquire land for the purpose. In the case of a borough council, other than a council of a county borough, an urban district council, or a parish council or meeting, if the Minister is satisfied, after holding a local inquiry, that these councils and the county council have failed to fulfil their statutory obligations to provide land for allotments, he may, under Section 24 of the Smallholdings and Allotments Act, 1908, as amended by the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, transfer the powers of the county1062W council to the Smallholdings Commissioners of the Ministry in order that the allotments required may be provided. In reply to the second part of the question, I am advised that there is no power under the Smallholdings and Allotments Act, 1908, or the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, for the Minister or a county council to act in default of the council of a county borough in regard to the provision of allotments. In reply to the last part of the question, I sec no reason, at present, to ask Parliament to amend the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, in the manner proposed.
§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what steps, if any, have been taken to appoint representatives of allotment holders on the Council of Agriculture for England, the Council of Agriculture for Wales, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the county agricultural committees, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act, 1919?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe details of the constitution of the Council of Agriculture for England, the Council of Agriculture for Wales, and the Agricultural Advisory Committee for England and Wales have not yet been finally settled. In the Model Scheme for the constitution of a county agricultural committee recently issued to all county councils, they are recommended to include on the committee representatives of allotment societies. If, in the case of any county, the interests of allotment holders do not appear to he sufficiently represented among the members appointed by the county council, the Minister will endeavour to secure that adequate representation is given to such interests among the members of the committee, which he himself is empowered to appoint.