AGRICULTURE (NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM). (Hansard, 11 July 1927)

Mr. BECKETT
asked the Minister of Agriculture the estimated area of moor and waste land considered suitable for cultivation in Northumberland and Durham?

Mr. GUINNESS
The area included in the Agricultural Returns for 1926 as rough grazings, i.e., mountain, heath, moor or down land and other rough land used for grazing, was 520,450 acres in Northumberland and 130,310 acres in Durham. I am unable to give any estimate as to how much, if any, of this area is suitable for cultivation. According to my information, the area of waste land which might be used for agriculture is negligible.
1759W

Mr. BECKETT
asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of land under cultivation in Northumberland and Durham on 1st june, 1913, 1920, and 1926, respectively?

Year. Northumberland. Durham.

Arable land, Crops and grass. Arable land. Crops and grass.

Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres.

1913 … … … 181,608 700,898 141,653 428,738

1920 … … … 209,102 683,597 163,670 419,426

1926 … … … 166,316 656,936 150,612 400,007

1760W

GUINNESS
The acreage of arable land and the total acreage under crops and grass, as returned on the 4th June in each of the undermentioned years in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, were as follow:

Year.	Northumberland.	Durham.
Arable land,	Crops and grass.	Arable land.	Crops and grass.
				Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.
1913	…	…	…	181,608	700,898	141,653	428,738
1920	…	…	…	209,102	683,597	163,670	419,426
1926	…	…	…	166,316	656,936	150,612	400,007