§ Captain BOURNEasked the Minister of Agriculture the number and acreage of allotments in England and Wales; the proportion provided by local authorities and private owners, respectively; and whether the numbers are increasing or diminishing?
Mr. GUINNESSThe Returns received from allotment authorities for the year ended 31st December, 1926, have been tabulated, but it will be some time before the results are published. The total number of allotments in England and Wales, including railway allotments, is roughly 1,079,000, and the area about 164,000 acres. About 48 per cent. of the number and 42 per cent. of the acreage are provided by local authorities and the remainder by private owners direct. I am glad to say that the somewhat rapid but not unexpected decline in allotments that set in after 1920 has been almost arrested. The area owned by local authorities, as distinct from the land leased by them, shows an increase.