§ 13. Mr. Fellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average net earnings of agricultural smallholders in Norfolk in the year 1964; what he estimates the average net earnings will be for 1965; what was the average size of agricultural smallholdings in Norfolk in 1964; and what is the estimated figure for 1965.
§ Mr. HoyThe average size of Norfolk County Council's statutory smallholdings was 42 acres for full-time and 6 acres for part-time holdings on 31st March, 1964. The corresponding figures for 31st March, 1965, were 43 acres and 6 acres respectively. I have no information about net earnings on Norfolk smallholdings.
§ Mr. FellI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that reply. As the Minister, in the Price Review, did not have to cope with a strong credit squeeze, what action is he now taking with regard to the credit squeeze and the availability of credit facilities for smallholders and, indeed, small farmers generally in view of the bank's directions? This is very important. Will he ask the Chancellor to give a directive specifically excluding small farmers and smallholders from the credit squeeze on capital?
§ Mr. HoyThat is a different question. I was asked what was the average size of smallholdings in Norfolk compared with last year. I have given the hon. Gentleman the figures. We do not have any information about the earnings of these smallholders; nor do we have the right to ask them to give us the information.
§ 14. Mr. Fellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural smallholdings were let in Norfolk at the end of 1960; and how many there were at the latest date for which figures exist.
§ Mr. HoyAt 31st March, 1961, the Norfolk County Council provided for letting 1,284 statutory smallholdings, of which 712 were considered to be full-time. At 31st March, 1965, the comparable figures were 1,143 and 657 respectively. I have no accurate information about the number of small private holdings available for letting in Norfolk.
§ Mr. FellI apologise to the hon. Gentleman for the fact that my supplementary question to No. 13 was different from the Question on the Order Paper, but things happen so quickly with this Government——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. So far, the hon. Gentleman's present supplementary question does not appear to relate to Question No. 14.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe ground is in no need of preparation. We are not making very good progress.
§ Mr. FellIn view of another catastrophe which has taken place as far as the small farmers are concerned, 1439 I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, since the figures show that the number of smallholdings is going down, it is Government policy to get rid of the small farmer?
§ Mr. HoyI do not understand the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. Apparently he knows why the number of smallholdings is going down; the reason is that the smallholding authority finds it of advantage to make smallholdings larger, which means that there is a better economic return.
Mr. J. E. B. HillShould not the hon. Gentleman be better informed about the size and the need to increase the size of Norfolk smallholdings and also about the returns on them, since Cambridge University has published a study which was summarised in The Times on 17th May? One would have thought that the hon. Gentleman would be aware of the report.
§ Mr. HoyI have explained that the number of smallholdings is going down not because any great acreage has disappeared but because smallholdings are being enlarged so as to give a better return to the smallholders concerned. The smallholdings are, in any case, managed by the Norfolk County Council and not by the Government.