HC Deb 11 November 1929 vol 231 cc1516-7
58. Major POLE

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of land of any description is owned by his Department; how much is arable and how much pastoral; what number of acres is at present let to tenants; what amount, if any, is in use by his Department; what number of acres is lying idle; and can he give the same information in connection with agricultural land under the owner ship or control of the Commissioner of Woods and Forests?

Mr. N. BUXTON

As the statement is necessarily long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with the concurrence of by hon. and gallant Friend, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Marquess of TITCHFIELD

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the loss per acre?

Following is the statement:

Description. Total acre age. Arable. Pasture. Downland. Roads, waterways, buildings, woods, etc. Let to tenants. In use by Ministry. Lying idle.
Farm Settlements 8,867 6,077 1,912 636 242 7,466 1,401 —
Pirbright (Bakersgate and Pullen's Farms). 125 66 55 — 4 125 — —
(Foot and Mouth Disease Committee).
28, Llanbeda Road, Crickhowell, Brecon (Water Bailiff's Cottage). ⅛ — — — ⅛ ⅛ — —
Trastrey Weir Cottage (Water Bailiff's Cottage). ⅛ — — — ⅛ ⅛ — —
Conway Mussel Works ½ — — — ½ — ½ —
Lympstone Oyster Purification Station. 3 — — — 3 — 3 —
Chipping Campden 5 — — — 5 5 — —
Bunford and Lopen Flax Factories. 47 — 40 — 7 47 — —
Lowestoft Fisheries Lab. ½ — — — ½ — ½ —
Totals 9,048¼ 6,143 2,007 636 262¼ 7,643¼ 1,405 Nil
The total area of agricultural land under the Commissioners of Crown Lands is about 107,000 acres. Approximately half this area is arable and half pastoral, but exact figures cannot be given without a disproportionate amount of labour. About 103,700 acres are let to tenants and the remaining 3,300 acres are being managed by the Commissioners with a view to letting as opportunity occurs.