§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers there are in each county and the acreage 437W farmed; how many have been dispossessed, or tenancies terminated, by his Department; what acreage has been taken over; how many members there are of the county agricultural committees and their sub-committees and district committees; and how many administrative and executive officials, and persons employed in administrative and clerical work.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe statistics collected by my Department do not differentiate farmers, but relate to all agricultural holdings exceeding one acre. I am sending the hon. Member a statement showing the numbers of such holdings in each county in June, 1947, with the acreages returned. Up to 30th November, 1947, the tenancies of 2,788 holdings in England and Wales have been terminated by notice under Defence Regulation 62, without possession being taken. In addition, possession has been taken under Defence Regulation 51 of 369,632 acres of agricultural land affecting 5,618 cases, many of them individual fields. In many instances, existing tenancies were terminated before possession was taken by agreement to facilitate reclamation and improvement. In some cases possession has now been relinquished. There are 765 members of county agricultural executive committees, 1,769 members of subcommittees and 3,776 members of district committees. County committees employ about 3,400 technical and administrative staff and 6,600 clerks and typists.