2. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give consideration to amending the regulations which at present provide only for a husband to be the tenant of full-time smallholdings, so as to allow the wife to take over the tenancy at his decease.
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Sir Thomas Dugdale)I have already amended the original Regulations, and the widow of a deceased smallholder may now be given preference as the new tenant.
Mr. SlaterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am very grateful to him for the new provisions which he has introduced, because undue hardship has been caused by the operation of the old regulations?
3. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Agriculture how many authorities, in response to his circular letter of 1952, have written to him for approval to carry on with part-time holdings on land of good quality which were a part of their social structure and sought after by farm workers; to which of the authorities he has given his consent; and to which he has given a refusal.
§ Sir T. DugdaleFour authorities have written asking my agreement to the retention of particular part-time holdings. 1458 I have agreed to all these proposals, in one case provisionally.
Mr. SlaterCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me how many of the schemes were in respect of Durham County and the amount of money involved?
§ Sir T. DugdaleNo, Sir, I cannot give particulars today. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question. Durham was not one of the counties which asked for agreement.
§ Mr. BartleyIn view of the very large waiting lists of applicants for small-holdings in Durham County, can something extraordinary be done to acquire land to satisfy the demand?
§ Sir T. DugdaleI am watching the position all the time. That is a different question from the one on the Order Paper.
4. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the creation of new smallholdings has taken place since March 1952; what extensions have been carried out to existing holdings from March, 1952, to March, 1953; how many schemes costing more than £250 for improvements have been submitted to him for his approval; what was the amount of money involved; and what expenditure he has sanctioned.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI shall not know exactly how many smallholdings were created or increased in size during the year 1952–53 until I have received reports from authorities about the progress of their smallholdings schemes during that period. In the year, however, I approved proposals for the creation of 42 new smallholdings and for the addition of land to 35 existing holdings. Two hundred and thirty-nine schemes for improvements costing more than £250 were submitted for my approval during the year at a total estimated cost of £440,000. I have approved 212 of these schemes, which are estimated to cost £350,000.
Mr. SlaterCan the Minister state how many, if any, applications were made from Durham County for improvements and extensions costing more than £250?
§ Sir T. DugdaleNot without notice.
§ Mr. G. BrownIn view of the rate at which we are losing men from the land and the extent to which this might 1459 prove to be a method of holding them, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the figures are ludicrously small? Will he try to get more money for the purpose?
§ Sir T. DugdaleConsidering all the factors involved, progress is good. I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman that, where we get a good smallholdings estate, it is the most satisfactory way to keep the best type of young man on the land.
§ Mr. BartleyCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the improvements referred to by my hon. Friend include additional equipment such as piggeries and poultry houses? Is he aware that some tenants of holdings, especially in Durham, have the utmost difficulty in getting favourable consideration given to applications for such equipment?
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe answer to the first part of the supplementary question is "Yes, Sir." As to the second part, I must ask the hon. Member to put down a specific Question about Durham County.