§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware that an ex-service man named G. Tilsley, late 12th South Staffordshire Regiment, the tenant of a small holding of 21½ acres at Black Hough Farm, Haughton, Staffordshire, who was demobilised from the Army during the progress of the War by the Board of Agriculture to cultivate his holding and whose small holding was until recently the property of the Commissioners of Queen Anne's Bounty, has received notice to quit from a recent purchaser of the holding, who is not an ex-service man, by 25th March, 1921; whether, if this eviction is allowed to proceed, the Board of Agriculture will find Mr. Tilsley an alternative small holding; 1566W and whether in the new Agricultural Bill eviction can be stayed till Michaelmas, 1920, and what compensation is payable to Mr. Tilsley?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI have no information regarding this case, but so far as I am able to judge the notice to quit will not be affected by the passing of the Agriculture Bill. The tenant appears to be entitled to compensation under the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1908–14, and if the Bill becomes law before the determination of the tenancy, Mr. Tilsley may become entitled to further compensation. As regards an alternative holding, I would suggest that Mr. Tilsley should apply at once to the Staffordshire County Council for a small holding under the Government Land Settlement scheme, when I feel sure that his application will receive careful consideration.