§ Mr. WIGNALLasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the case of an ex-service smallholder in the parish of Roxton, Bedfordshire, who, having applied to purchase a cottage and garden, has been refused by the county agricultural committee on the grounds that it must be sold by tender only; whether he is aware that in the same village this committee recently sold privately, with the sanction of his Ministry, to another ex-service man a cottage without asking for any tenders whatever; and will he have an inquiry made into this case?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Ministry is informed by the county council that the cottage referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question is very old and dilapidated and is not occupied at present as a dwelling house, but is used as a granary. The council decided to offer the property for sale by tender as such advertisement would give all ex-service men a chance of acquiring it, and not only the few who by chance might have been aware of the council's intention to sell. The council will not necessarily accept the highest tender and will, doubtless give preference to applications made by ex-service men. The cottage referred to in the second part of the hon. Member's question has been sold to an ex-service man who occupies land practically surrounding the cottage, and the two cases appear, therefore, to be hardly comparable.