§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he has received a petition from the parish council of Haughton, Staffordshire, passed unanimously by all the members of the council and signed by practically every voter in the parish, asking for orders to enclose Allimore Green and Dale Common in that parish in view of existing nuisances thereon and of the present waste character of the land which is agriculturally valuable; whether he is aware of the strong local feeling that these plots of land should be brought under proper cultivation or rendered available for objects of public utility, such as a village recreation ground; and whether he will grant an Order under the Act of 1876 in accordance with the wishes of the parish?
Sir A. BOSCAWENYes, Sir. A petition from the parish council in question has been received. It was not, however, clear that the application was a valid one for the purposes of the Commons Act, 1876, and the Council were accordingly instructed as to the form in which such application should be made and as to what information was necessary. When a fresh application is received it shall be carefully considered, but the Ministry will require to be satisfied that the enclosure is in the general interests of the neighbourhood, and that those interests would not be equally well served by keeping the Commons open under Regulation. In any case, an Order under the Commons Act, 1876, is subject to confirmation by Parliament.