§ Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state, according to the most recent returns, the total acreage held for the purpose of small holdings in England and Wales, and the number of tenants concerned?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONAccording to the Annual Returns collected by the Ministry in 1929 the number of agricultural holdings in England and Wales exceeding one acre but not exceeding 50 acres in extent on 4th June was 258,328. This figure includes a number of pieces or parcels of land which were separately returned but which, especially as regards those under 20 acres, are not what are usually understood as agricultural or small holdings. The exact number of these cannot be given. A special tabulation of the annual returns collected in 1924 showed that the number of holdings over one acre and not exceeding 50 acres was 268,330 and covered an acreage of 4,196,243 acres.