HC Deb 31 March 1927 vol 204 cc1424-5
77. Mr. G. HALL

asked the Minister of Agriculture to state the acreage of arable land and the total acreage of crops and permanent grass in Wales during the years 1891, 1901, 1912, 1921, 1925, and 1926, respectively, and the number of persons engaged during each of the years on such land?

Mr. GUINNESS

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the information desired.

Following is the information:

The acreage of arable land and the total acreage of crops and permanent grass in Wales (including Monmouth) in each of the undermentioned years were as fellows:

… … Arable land. Total crops and permanent grass.
… … Acres. Acres.
1891 … … 930,288 3,133,335
1901 … … 927,518 3,065,672
1911 … … 759,043 3,008,637
1921 … … 818,611 2,822,659
1925 … … 681,600 2,789,896
1926 … … 674,605 2,779,667

Comparable figures of the number of persons engaged in agriculture during each of these years are not available. The returns obtained in connection with the population censuses give the number of persons in agricultural occupations as fellows:

Number.
1891 … … … 100,000
1901 … … … 93,402
1911 … … … 96,622
1921 … … … 91,742

The above figures include all persons describing themselves as farmers, graziers, male relatives assisting in the work of the farms, farm bailiffs, foremen, shepherds, and agricultural labourers.

Returns obtained in connection with the agricultural returns of recent years give the number of persons actually employed on agricultural holdings in Wales (including Monmouth), excluding occupiers, their wives and domestic servants, as returned by occupiers on 4th June each year, as follows:

Number.
1921 … … … 68,139
1925 … … … 61,182
1926 … … … 62,364