HC Deb 26 November 1936 vol 318 cc569-71W
Mr. HENDERSON STEWART

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the arable acreage, the total cultivated area, the number of workers em-

(1) Area of Arable Land in Scotland, as returned at 4th June in each of the undernoted years.
Year. Land under Tillage. Land under Rotation Grasses and Clover. Total Arable Land.
Acres. Acres. Acres.
1913 1,827,902 1,474,052 3,301,954
1924 1,758,041 1,515,075 3,273,116
1930 1,572,547 1,499,268 3,071,815
1931 1,517,552 1,534,378 3,051,930
1932 1,534,700 1,511,463 3,046,163
1933 1,552,573 1,477,507 3,030,080
1934 1,574,850 1,416,728 2,991,578
1935 1,562,457 1,420,454 2,982,911

(2) Area of Cultivated Land in Scotland, as returned at 4th June in each of the undernoted years.
Year. Arable Land. Land under Permanent Grass. Total.
Acres. Acres. Acres.
1913 3,301,954 1,495,965 4,797,919
1924 3,273,116 1,442,174 4,715,290
1930 3,071,815 1,568,903 4,640,718
1931 3,051,930 1,580,270 4,632,200
1932 3,046,163 1,570,054 4,622,217
1933 3,030,080 1,583,628 4,613,708
1934 2,991,578 1,608,862 4,600,440
1935 2,982,911 1,615,636 4,598,547

ployed, the average wages paid to such workers, and the estimated gross output in cash on Scottish farms in each of the years 1913, 1931, 1933, 1934 and 1935; and what were the average prices received by farmers for oats and barley in each of those years?

Mr. ELLIOT

Particulars cannot be supplied precisely in the form desired, for the following reasons:

  1. (a) The number of workers returned in 1913 is not comparable with later returns, owing to a difference in the basis of inclusion.
  2. (b) Returns of wages were not obtained in 1913.
  3. (c) The value of the agricultural output was estimated for the first time in 1924–25; and the year for this purpose is not the calendar year, but that extending from June of one year to May of the next.
Figures, other than those given in respect of acreage, relate as nearly as possible to the year 1924–25 and to the years 1931, 1933, 1934 and 1935 specified in the question.

(3) Numbers of Workers employed on Agricultural Holdings in Scotland over one acre in extent; as returned on 4th June in each of the undernoted years.
Year. Regular Workers. Casual Workers. Total Workers.
Males 21 years old and over. Males under 21 years old. Women and Girls. Total. Males 21 years old and over. Males under 21 years old. Women and Girls. Total.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
1924 … 58,014 22,073 20,098 100,185 5,801 2,958 8,398 17,157 117,342
1930 … 60,037 20,678 18,582 99,297 6,023 2,972 7,216 16,211 115,508
1931 … 59,226 20,144 18,060 97,430 5,355 2,848 6,833 15,036 112,466
1932 … 58,877 19,901 18,051 96,829 5,393 2,737 6,298 14,428 111,257
1933 … 59,028 19,228 17,807 96,063 6,998 3,789 5,615 16,402 112,465
1934 … 59,166 19,567 18,537 97,270 6,829 2,995 6,180 16,004 113,274
1935 … 60,118 19,633 17,816 97,567 6,825 2,978 6,093 15,896 113,463

(4) Average weekly wages (cash and allowances) earned by ploughmen, cattlemen and shepherds in Scotland in the undernoted years (Martinmas to Martinmas).
Year. Average Wage.
Ploughmen. Cattlemen. Shepherds.
s. d. s. d. s. d.
1924–25 … … … … 38 10 39 7 39 8
1930–31 … … … … 36 6 38 3 38 7
1931–32 … … … … 37 0 38 3 39 0
1932–33 … … … … 35 3 36 9 37 3
1933–34 … … … … 34 1 35 6 36 1
1934–35 … … … … 34 1 35 9 36 1

(5) Estimated Gross Value of Agricultural Produce sold off Farms or consumed in Farm Households in Scotland in the undernoted years (June to May).
Estimated Gross Value.
Year. £
1924–25 … … … … … … … 48,660,000
1930–31 … … … … … … … 37,743,000
1931–32 … … … … … … … 35,810,000
1932–33 … … … … … … … 31,290,000
1933–34 … … … … … … … 32,520,000
1934–35 … … … … … … … 35,960,000*
* Subject to revision.

(6) Price per cwt. of oats and barley in Scotland in the undernoted cereal years (September to August).
Cereal Year. Price of oats per cwt. Price of barley per cwt.
s. d. s. d.
1924–25 … … … 9 10 11 1
1930–31 … … … 6 2 5 2
1931–32 … … … 7 7 6 0
1932–33 … … … 5 1 5 6
1933–34 … … … 5 4 7 1
1934–35 … … … 6 5 6 7
The figures shown in Table (6) represent an unweighted average of market prices throughout the year as reported to the Department. They must not be taken as representing an exact average of receipts from all sales.