AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS. (Hansard, 27 March 1928)

§ Mr. RILEY
asked the Minister of Agriculture the gross estimated rental of all the agricultural holdings in England and Wales for the year ending 1921–22; the average rent per acre of all such holdings; and the total acreage under cultivation?

§ Sir R. SANDERS
The total area under crops anti grass in England and Wales in June, 1922, as returned lay occupiers of agricultural holdings exceeding 1 acre in extent was 26,026,000 acres. I regret that I am unable to furnish the other information desired by the hon. Member.

§ Mr. JOHN
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will furnish information as to the total acreage of land under cultivation in England and Wales for the years 1910, 1913, 1919 and 1922; what is the total product of cereals and roots for each of the years mentioned; whether he will give the total acreage of land which has gone out of cultivation for the last 10 years and which is now under grass; and whether he will provide the necessary information separately for Wales?

§ Sir R. SANDERS
The figures are as follow:
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AREA of Arable Land and Permanent Grass, Total Acreage under Crops and Grass, and Estimated Total Production of Wheat, Barley, Oats, Potatoes, Turnips and Swedes, and Mangolds, in England and Wales in each of the years 1910, 1913, 1919 and 1922.

(Note.—The figures relate to Agricultural Holdings exceeding 1 acre in extent.)

— 1910. 1913. 1919. 1922.

England. Wales. England and Wales. England. Wales. England and Wales. England. Wales. England and Wales. England. Wales. England and Wales.

AREA. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres.

Arable Land … 10,592,055 728,389 11,320,444 10,361,849 696,384 11,058,233 11,412,353 896,523 12,308,876 10,583,258 727,257 11,310,515

Permanent Grass … 13,923,327 2,048,817 15,972,144 14,012,946 2,058,203 16,071,149 12,656,945 1,782,132 14,439,077 12,838,415 1,876,863 14,715,278

Total … 24,515,382 2,777,206 27,292,588 24,374,795 2,754,587 27,129,382 24,069,298 2,678,655 26,747,953 23,421,673 2,604,120 26,025,793

ESTIMATED TOTAL PRODUCTION. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs.

Wheat … 6,479,000 136,000 6,615,000 6,512,000 130,000 6,642,000 7,728,000 248,000 7,976,000 7,540,000 124,000 7,664,000

Barley … 5,911,000 351,000 6,262,000 5,985,000 338,000 6,323,000 5,074,000 400,000 5,474,000 4,854,000 214,000 5,068,000

Oats … 9,722,000 971,000 10,693,000 8,532,000 847,000 9,379,000 10,052,000 1,365,000 11,417,000 8,543,000 746,000 9,289,000

Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.

Potatoes … 2,467,000 132,000 2,599,000 2,755,000 140,000 2,895,000 2,571,000 162,000 2,733,000 3,846,000 166,000 4,012,000

Turnips and Swedes … 16,532,000 1,000,000 17,532,000 11,936,000 858,000 12,794,000 10,399,000 760,000 11,159,000 10,372,000 536,000 10,908,000

Mangold … 9,106,000 205,000 9,311,000 7,434,000 177,000 7,611,000 6,098,000 196,000 6,294,000 8,383,000 177,000 8,560,000

The area of arable land in England in 1922 was 14,000 acres and in Wales 11,000 acres less than in 1912, but it is not possible to state how much of these areas is now under grass, since both arable land and grass may be taken over for other than agricultural purposes.

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§ Mr. JOHN
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will furnish a Return showing the number of agricultural workers employed in England and Wales for each of the following years: 1908 to 1914, inclusive, and 1919 to 1922, inclusive;

NUMBER of Workers employed on Agricultural Holdings above One Acre in extent, in England and Wales, as returned by the Occupiers in June, 1908, 1913 and 1921.

1908.

— Regular Workers. Casual Workers. Total.

Males. Women and Girls. Males. Women and Girls.

England … … … 478,000 54,000 106,000 30,000 668,000

Wales … … … 30,000 14,000 8,000 2,000 54,000

England and Wales … 508,000 68,000 114,000 32,000 722,000

1913.

England … … … 481,000 34,000 72,000 21,000 608,000

Wales … … … 27,000 9,000 6,000 1,000 43,000

England and Wales … … 508,000 43,000 78,000 22,000 651,000

1921.

England … … … 574,000 62,000 120,000 50,000 806,000

Wales … … … 38,000 11,000 11,000 3,000 63,000

England and Wales … 612,000 73,000 131,000 53,000 869,000

NOTE.-The figures for 1908 and 1913 do not include members of the occupier's family; those for 1921 do not include the occupier and his wife, but include other members of the family working on the holding.

Returns of the number of workers employed on agricultural holdings have not been collected by the Ministry in any years other than those shown above.

AREA of Arable Land and Permanent Grass, Total Acreage under Crops and Grass, and Estimated Total Production of Wheat, Barley, Oats, Potatoes, Turnips and Swedes, and Mangolds, in England and Wales in each of the years 1910, 1913, 1919 and 1922.
(Note.—The figures relate to Agricultural Holdings exceeding 1 acre in extent.)
—	1910.	1913.	1919.	1922.
England.	Wales.	England and Wales.	England.	Wales.	England and Wales.	England.	Wales.	England and Wales.	England.	Wales.	England and Wales.
AREA.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.
Arable Land	…	10,592,055	728,389	11,320,444	10,361,849	696,384	11,058,233	11,412,353	896,523	12,308,876	10,583,258	727,257	11,310,515
Permanent Grass	…	13,923,327	2,048,817	15,972,144	14,012,946	2,058,203	16,071,149	12,656,945	1,782,132	14,439,077	12,838,415	1,876,863	14,715,278
Total	…	24,515,382	2,777,206	27,292,588	24,374,795	2,754,587	27,129,382	24,069,298	2,678,655	26,747,953	23,421,673	2,604,120	26,025,793
ESTIMATED TOTAL PRODUCTION.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.
Wheat	…	6,479,000	136,000	6,615,000	6,512,000	130,000	6,642,000	7,728,000	248,000	7,976,000	7,540,000	124,000	7,664,000
Barley	…	5,911,000	351,000	6,262,000	5,985,000	338,000	6,323,000	5,074,000	400,000	5,474,000	4,854,000	214,000	5,068,000
Oats	…	9,722,000	971,000	10,693,000	8,532,000	847,000	9,379,000	10,052,000	1,365,000	11,417,000	8,543,000	746,000	9,289,000
	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Potatoes	…	2,467,000	132,000	2,599,000	2,755,000	140,000	2,895,000	2,571,000	162,000	2,733,000	3,846,000	166,000	4,012,000
Turnips and Swedes	…	16,532,000	1,000,000	17,532,000	11,936,000	858,000	12,794,000	10,399,000	760,000	11,159,000	10,372,000	536,000	10,908,000
Mangold	…	9,106,000	205,000	9,311,000	7,434,000	177,000	7,611,000	6,098,000	196,000	6,294,000	8,383,000	177,000	8,560,000
The area of arable land in England in 1922 was 14,000 acres and in Wales 11,000 acres less than in 1912, but it is not possible to state how much of these areas is now under grass, since both arable land and grass may be taken over for other than agricultural purposes.

NUMBER of Workers employed on Agricultural Holdings above One Acre in extent, in England and Wales, as returned by the Occupiers in June, 1908, 1913 and 1921.
1908.
—	Regular Workers.	Casual Workers.	Total.
Males.	Women and Girls.	Males.	Women and Girls.
England	…	…	…	478,000	54,000	106,000	30,000	668,000
Wales	…	…	…	30,000	14,000	8,000	2,000	54,000
England and Wales			…	508,000	68,000	114,000	32,000	722,000
1913.
England	…	…	…	481,000	34,000	72,000	21,000	608,000
Wales	…	…	…	27,000	9,000	6,000	1,000	43,000
England and Wales		…	…	508,000	43,000	78,000	22,000	651,000
1921.
England	…	…	…	574,000	62,000	120,000	50,000	806,000
Wales	…	…	…	38,000	11,000	11,000	3,000	63,000
England and Wales			…	612,000	73,000	131,000	53,000	869,000
NOTE.-The figures for 1908 and 1913 do not include members of the occupier's family; those for 1921 do not include the occupier and his wife, but include other members of the family working on the holding.
Returns of the number of workers employed on agricultural holdings have not been collected by the Ministry in any years other than those shown above.