§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of allotments acquired under the Defence of the Realm Act and retained under that Act at 31st December, 1918; and similarly the number at 31st December, 1919, and 31st December, 1920, each number being stated separately?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo returns were obtained from local authorities of the D.O.R.A. allotments as at 31st December, 1918. I regret, therefore, I am unable to supply the information asked for in the first part of the question. According to the returns furnished by authorities, the total number of allotment holders on land provided under powers contained in Regulation 2L of the D.O.R.A. Regulations as at 31st December, 1919, and 31st December, 1920, was 276,355 and 254,785 respectively. Some of the D.O.R.A. land, however, from which the Ministry form-332W ally withdrew has been taken over by the local allotment authority, and the number of allotment holders on land acquired under the Small Holding and Allotment Acts showed a marked increase at 31st December, 1920, as compared with 31st December, 1919. It is proposed to publish very shortly a report as to the total number of allotments in England and Wales.