HL Deb 24 March 1965 vol 264 cc625-6

2.59 p.m.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they intend to introduce relating to the small farmer, as indicated by the Minister of Agriculture in his statement on the Agricultural Price Review, when he said: "We are, therefore, planning measures to encourage an increase in the size of holdings on a voluntary basis".]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CHAMPION)

My Lords, these measures are still being worked out, and I am not yet in a position to give details of what may be proposed. My right honourable friend has, however, said that the Government are pressing on rapidly with the consideration of this matter and intend to introduce the necessary measures as soon as possible.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. Can he say whether Her Majesty's Government are considering giving financial inducements to small farmers to give up their farms in order to enable them to be amalgamated with other small farms?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, that will be one of the subjects under consideration, and will be a matter for consultation with the interests concerned. However, we hope to arrive at something which will be helpful.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, could the noble Lord explain how small farmers can voluntarily increase the size of their holdings unless other small farms are vacated for them to do so?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, that is precisely what we are doing; trying to encourage certain other small farmers to give up, in order that we may have larger and more economic units—units of what is, after all, a very scarce raw material, land.

VISCOUNT BRENTFORD

My Lords, could the noble Lord indicate what he considers to be an economic unit of land for farming purposes, and could he define a "small farmer"?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, my right honourable friend has suggested that this question needs further consideration; and I agree. It depends so much on the situation. One cannot give an answer which can clearly cover every possible instance.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, can the noble Lord say that he would not altogether rule out a form of "golden pitchfork" scheme?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, if I only knew what a golden pitchfork was, I might be able to answer the noble Earl.