HC Deb 16 June 1958 vol 589 c657
17. Mr. G. Wilson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings in Cornwall are of less than 20 acres; how many are of between 20 to 40 acres, 40 to 100 acres, 100 to 150 acres, 150 to 200 acres; and how many of 200 acres and over.

Mr. John Hare

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Wilson

If, as I expect, the reply will show that there is a very large number of very small farms in Cornwall, will my right hon. Friend bear that fact in mind in defining the lower limit of what is a small farm in connection with any scheme to help the small farmer?

Mr. Hare

I thought that my hon. Friend knew the answer to the question. There are, of course, large numbers of small farms in Cornwall. I cannot give any commitment at this stage on the acreage that I shall contemplate when introducing a scheme.

The following is the reply: The following are the estimated numbers of holdings, excluding 73 holdings consisting entirely of rough grazings in the County of Cornwall in June, 1957:—
Crops and Grass
Less than 20 acres … … 6,564
Between 20 and 40 acres … … 2,167
Between 40 and 100 acres … … 3,205
Between 100 and 150 acres … … 1,068
Between 150 and 200 acres … … 472
200 acres and over … … 384