§ 77. Mr. GOULDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give the number of applicants for small holdings and the number of holdings provided in the county of Somerset for the last three years?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe numbers of applications for small holdings or cottage holdings received by the Somerset County Council were 69 in 1927, 103 in 1928 and 57 in 1929. The numbers actually provided with holdings, have been 25 in 1927, 71 in 1928 and 49 in 1929.
§ England and Wales has gone down to grass during each of the last five years?
§ Dr. ADDISONAs the reply consists of a number of figures, I propose with the permission of my hon. Friend, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
While I am unable to say how much arable land has been laid down to grass, the following statement shows the changes in the area of arable land, permanent grass and rough grazings in each of the last five years.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Mr. GOULDIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps to meet the demand or to assist the county councils to meet the demand?
§ Dr. ADDISONA few days ago I circularised the county councils making various suggestions as to how this might be done.
§ Mr. ALPASSIn the issue of these instructions, will not the county councils be advised to see that the rents charged to smallholders are somewhat more comparable with the rents paid by agricultural tenants?
§ Dr. ADDISONI will consider that point.