HC Deb 01 December 1949 vol 470 cc1317-8
51. Mr. Watkins

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the acreage of land to be taken over by the Forestry Commission in the counties of Brecon, Cardigan and Carmarthen as recently announced; how many farms in categories A, B and C are involved; what were the production and cultivation figures last June; how many men and women are employed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. T. Williams

As the answer is rather long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Watkins

Did my right hon. Friend's Department make inquiries of the farming interests, particuarly in his own county, and in each of the counties, as to whether there would be a great loss of food production?

Mr. Williams

My Department and the Forestry Commission have jointly held several meetings throughout the year and they came to absolute agreement in regard to this policy.

Following is the answer:

The acreage to be taken in Brecon is 1,760, in Cardigan 8,824, and in Carmarthen 9,021. Those farms in the area that have been classified comprise 4 in category A, 23 in B, and 7 in C. Production figures are not available, but in June last the stock carried on the 19,605 acres was about 11,400 ewes and 400 cattle, or well under one ewe per acre. The tillage area was only about 200 acres. I am unable to give a total labour figure because many of the holdings are family farms or are farmed as bye-takes; but the number of employed workers was 33.

Generally I am satisfied, after very careful consideration of the agricultural and silvicultural characteristics of this area, that the balance of advantage in the national interest lies in devoting it primarily to afforestation. On the one hand its productivity value for agriculture is low, the population is small, and its roads and services are poor. On the other we have a block of nearly 20,000 acres of which approximately 80 per cent. is suitable for planting, much of it for the production of pit props which are badly needed for the South Wales coalfields. A substantial additional area for planting is urgently needed in Wales if the programme approved by the Government is to be fulfilled, and I consider that it would be difficult to find many areas combining such excellent prospects for timber with such a modest loss to food production.

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