§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEasked His Majesty's Government whether the number of small-holders in Great Britain has increased during the last quarter of a century, and if so to what extent and in what areas and whether by virtue of the Small Holdings Acts, or by natural increment: also to what extent such small holdings are occupied by persons who were previously workers on farms or in market gardens.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE DUKE OF NORFOLK)The Agricultural Returns show a fall of approximately 40,000, or 12 per cent., over the last quarter of a century in the number of holdings of 50 acres or less in Great Britain. The fall in the number of holdings between 20 and 50 acres was approximately 7,000 or 8 per cent. These statistics relate to all holdings of land used for agricultural purposes which exceed one acre. Details for separate parts of the country are not readily available, but the reduction in the number of small holdings has been greater in England and Wales than in Scotland. The increase over the last 25 years in the number of holdings provided under the Small Holdings Acts has been approximately 17,000. I have no information concerning the previous occupations of persons with small agricultural holdings generally, but the great majority of persons who take over statutory small holdings have formerly worked in agriculture.
House adjourned.