§ Sir K. FRASERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether the Leicestershire County Council have recently purchased land for small holdings in the parish of Kilby, near Leicester, and have given all the smallholders there notice to quit in order to replace them by discharged soldiers; and, in view of the fact that there are many large farms in Leicestershire portions of which could be acquired as small holdings for ex-soldiers, will he consider the question of protecting the smallholders at present tenanting their holdings from being turned out to be replaced by others who would not be so likely to understand the ground and consequently decrease production, as the 671W only protection which the present tenants now have is the assurance that their case will receive sympathetic consideration?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The matter is one over which the Ministry has no direct control, but I may explain that it is not the intention of the Act, or the usual practice of county councils, to disturb existing smallholders in order to place ex-service men on the land, except in cases in which the holdings can with advantage be sub-divided so as to provide for two or three new tenants. I have already taken steps to make representations to the Leicester County Council on the lines desired by my hon. Friend. I cannot, however, sec my way to accept his suggestion that councils should restrict themselves to the acquisition of parts of farms involving heavy claims for compensation for severance.