§ 66. Mr. WESTWOODasked 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. JOHNSTONasked 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. GILMOURDuring 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. JOHNSTONDo the figures the right hon. Gentleman has just given take any account of the number of holdings that have been filled up?
§ Sir J. GILMOURWherever a holding becomes vacant under any scheme, it is at once refilled.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman include these numbers filled up in the figures he has just given?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI shall require notice of that question.