§ 9. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many agricultural holdings of 50 acres and less there are in England and Wales; how many of these are statutory small holdings formed under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908; and what proportion of the total number of agricultural holdings of all sizes in England and Wales do they represent?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISThe number of agricultural holdings in England and Wales exceeding 1 acre and not exceeding 50 acres in extent, according to the latest available Returns, is 292,720. On 31st December last the number of holdings provided under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, was 10,192, amounting to 132,601 acres. This number represented 2.34 per cent., and the number given, in answer to the first part of the question, represented 67.16 per cent. of the total number of holdings in England and Wales exceeding 1 acre. I may add that the amount of land comprised in schemes and compulsory Orders notified or submitted to the Board up to the 12th instant is 170,918 acres, which, at the average size of 13 acres, would provide for a total of 13,150 holdings, equal to 3 per cent. of the total number of holdings.