§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement is being given to allotments by way of grants either to local authorities or through the National Society of Leisure Gardeners.
§ Mr. Marks:The Government do not make grants specifically for allotments. However, the Manpower Services Commission has so far allocated over £500,000 to local authorities for job creation schemes involving the conversion of land into allotments.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Seretary of State for the Environment under what statutory powers local authorities levy a small sum on the rates for the development and upkeep of allotments.
§ Mr. Marks:Section 16 of the Allotments Act 1922, as amended by Section 11 of the Allotments Act 1950 and by Schedule 2 to the Decimal Currency Act 1969, entitles local allotments authorities to spend on allotments, in excess of income, no greater amount than would be produced by a rate of 0.8p in the pound.