§ 10. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the number of farms becoming available for letting.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BakerWill my right hon. Friend, in the event that the discussions between the CLA and the NFU do not produce an early conclusion, none the less persist in bringing forward reforms of the hereditary tenancy legislation?
§ Mr. WalkerNo. It is most important that agreement is reached within the industry on a reasonable and sensible position. I am certainly anxious to increase the number of tenancies available, but to do that against a background of considerable disagreement within the industry would be a mistake.
§ Mr. BuchanIs it not a complete myth to suggest that the shortage of farms for letting is due to the existence of the schemes we have introduced, north and south of the border, for protecting the inhabitancy of tenants' successors? Will the Minister accept that if he moves to such a proposition it will be bitterly resented in many parts of the House? The problem arises from, among other things, land use and institutional buying. Those factors, not the legislation, are causing the log-jam.
§ Mr. WalkerI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman. I think that there is a balance of considerations here. There are many young people who would like to enter farming at present but who find it impossible to do so under the present system. There are many people who would be willing to let farms, but the present system prevents them from doing so. There is a balance to be reached. If in the talks a sensible balance can be reached, of course I shall consider them very seriously.