HC Deb 16 April 1953 vol 514 cc356-8
18. Mr. Bartley

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of smallholdings owned or leased by Durham County Council; the number of holdings this acreage constitutes; and the number of tenants occupying such holdings.

Sir T. Dugdale

I understand that the Durham County Council own or lease 5,920 acres of land used for smallholdings. 350 smallholdings are let direct by the county council, and land is also let to smallholdings societies, who sub-let to 203 sub-tenants.

Mr. Bartley

Can the Minister say whether the acreage per tenant has been increased in recent years and, also, whether he is satisfied that the land and the equipment on the holdings is being used to ensure maximum production?

Sir T. Dugdale

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a question dealing with the first part of his supplementary, which is on a different point. As for the second part, I am satisfied that improvement to equipment on these smallholdings is going on all the time in County Durham.

Mr. Bartley

But is the Minister satisfied that full use is now being made of the equipment, such as piggeries, so as to ensure full production?

Sir T. Dugdale

I will certainly look into that point, but as far as I know conditions in the county are satisfactory.

19. Mr. Bartley

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of applicants awaiting smallholdings in County Durham; the average period such applicants have been waiting; the area of land required to meet this demand; and what action is being taken to acquire land for this purpose.

Sir T. Dugdale

I understand that 186 applicants have been approved by the county council and are now awaiting smallholdings in the county. The county council inform me that the average period of waiting is probably about seven years. If smallholdings were to be provided at once for all these applicants, some 7,000 to 9,000 acres would be required, depending on the types of holding provided. No estates suitable for subdivision into smallholdings have been in the market recently, but the county council are considering proposals for reorganising and purchasing a smallholdings estate already held on lease.

Mr. Bartley

I appreciate the difficulty of acquiring farms in the ordinary market, but will the Minister consider taking action to reclaim the land, many acres of which have been lost in County Durham through damage by coal mining subsidence, and making it available for smallholdings.

Sir T. Dugdale

If the Durham County Council were to submit a scheme for purchasing Coal Board land, I would certainly give it careful consideration.

Mr. Bartley

Is the Minister aware that it is not just Coal Board land which is concerned? That is true to some extent, but other land has also been damaged and is at present out of use. It could be reclaimed by some expenditure and work on it.

Sir T. Dugdale

Very often that kind of land would not be suitable for smallholdings.