§ 57. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of arable land have been put down to grass during the last four years; and how many farmers have purchased their holdings during the same period?
Mr. GUINNESSThe decrease in the area of arable land during the last four years is 817,500 acres. The bulk of this has been laid down to grass, but some part has undoubtedly been taken for building or other non-agricultural purposes. I regret that I have not the data which would enable me to answer the second part of the question.