§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings are administered by his Department.
§ Mr. BishopThe Ministry is responsible for the management of 388 agricultural holdings.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many holdings under the control of his Department are let to tenants.
§ Mr. BishopExcluding small areas let for non-agricultural purposes all the 388 agricultural holdings managed by the Ministry are let to tenants.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many holdings under the control of his Department are let to sons of previous tenants.
§ Mr. BishopThe information required will take some time to obtain. I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with 517W regard to holdings controlled or owned by his Department, what his policy has been to applications by tenants for joint tenancies or for the transfer of tenancies to tenant's sons.
§ Mr. BishopThe policy has been to avoid joint tenancies as far as possible but to give sympathetic consideration to applications for the transfer of a tenancy to the tenant's son provided he has the requisite agricultural experience and financial standing.
The letting of statutory smallholdings on the Ministry's Farm Settlements Estate at Sutton Bridge and Holbeach is governed by the Agriculture Act 1970 and the Smallholdings (Selection of Tenants) Regulations 1970.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many amalgamations have taken place in the last five years between farms owned by or under the control of his Department.
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 £ £ £ £ £ Undefended matrimonial cases … … 104 115 120 137 152 Defended matrimonial cases … … 254 312 317 360 400