§ 13. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the proportion of farms in England and Wales farmed on the landlord-tenant system at the latest available date.
§ Mr. John HareThe latest available information is that derived from the World Census of 1950. This showed that approximately 61 per cent. of the holdings of five acres and over in England and Wales were tenanted.
§ Mr. HurdIs my right hon. Friend fully convinced, after his experience as Minister of Agriculture for some months, that the system of landlord and tenant which we have perfected in this country really does work to the advantage of the agricultural industry as a whole?
§ Mr. HareYes, Sir; I certainly agree with that. I think the House realises that, being both an owner and a farmer of land myself, I am not prejudiced when I say that there is little doubt that the sharing of responsibility in the landlord and tenant system has a great deal to commend it.
Mr. T. WilliamsDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that the new Agriculture Bill will tend to disturb this happy relationship between landlords and tenants?
§ Mr. HareI do not think so. I think that is very much up to the right hon. Gentleman himself. I am told that it is to be discussed.