§ 33. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total acreage of arable land in Scotland.
§ Mr. MaclayThe total arable acreage—i.e. land under tillage crops and rotation grass—was 3,349,000 in 1959.
§ 34. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cultivated acreage of arable land in Scotland for the years 1957–58, 1958–59 and 1959–60, respectively.
§ Mr. MaclayThe acreage under tillage crops (that is crops other than grass) in Scotland in 1957 was 1,611,000; in 1958 1,580,000 and in 1959 1,546,000.
§ Mr. ManuelHas the right hon. Gentleman prepared any plans for the future which will greatly increase Scotland's tillage acreage? Is he aware that such plans would lead to a much healthier agricultural industry in Scotland and also save much shipping space at present used for the importation of essential food?
§ Mr. MaclayThe decline in acreage shown by the figures which I have been given has been largely offset by the increase in the acreage of rotation grass. As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, good husbandry demands a relatively high proportion of grass in rotation. The Government's main objective has been set out in the White Paper on Agricultural Guarantees for 1959, and our object at the moment is the maintenance of the arable acreage at roughly the present size.