Mr. BELLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing among allotment holders at Bootle in consequence of evictions at Breeze Hill; whether it is contended that the land in question is not to be used for building, but is to be used as a rubbish tip; whether alternative plots offered at Aintree Road are subject to very short tenancy and, in addition, that the state of the ground is such as to make cultivation extremely difficult; and whether he will have a further investigation made into the complaints of the evicted holders and others waiting for allotments in Bootle?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Ministry made full inquiries into the position with regard to the allotment holders at Breeze Hill, Bootle, in connection with the questions asked by the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring in March last. I am informed that out of 68 persons who were dispossessed of their allotments, the majority have accepted land at Aintree Road, and that at the end of March only 12 men had refused to take up the alternative land offered. I am aware that the land at Aintree Road is held by the corporation subject to resumption by the owner after February, 1922, on giving three months' notice. As, however, it is building land, the Ministry cannot ask the Council to purchase it for the purpose of providing allotments, and local authorities can usually take such land on lease only subject to the owner's power of resumption at short notice. In the circumstances, I regret that I cannot make the further investigations which the hon. Member suggests.