HC Deb 06 April 1925 vol 182 cc1822-3
66. Mr. WESTWOOD

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of smallholders in Scotland in the years 1922, 1923 and 1924, respectively?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)

The numbers of holdings in Scotland exceeding one and not exceeding 50 acres in extent, according to the returns made to the Board of Agriculture in 1922, 1923 and 1924, were 50,278, 50,422 and 50,545 respectively. An addition of, approximately, 5,000 should be made to those figures in respect of holdings exceeding 50 acres in extent, but of an annual value not exceeding £50.

70. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Secretary for Scotland the numbers of new holdings created and the number of holdings enlarged during the past 12 months, with a statement showing how these figures compare with recent years?

Sir J. GILMOUR

During the year ending the 31st December last, 269 new holdings and 126 enlargements of existing holdings were formed by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. The corresponding figures for the previous five years are:

1919 282 and 114
1920 227 and 90
1921 415 and 307
1922 433 and 304
1923 322 and 108

Mr. JOHNSTON

Do the figures the right hon. Gentleman has just given take any account of the number of holdings that have been filled up?

Sir J. GILMOUR

Wherever a holding becomes vacant under any scheme, it is at once refilled.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman include these numbers filled up in the figures he has just given?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I shall require notice of that question.