§ 73. Mr. Bullardasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now make a statement on smallholdings policy, with particular reference to the provision of part-time smallholdings.
§ Sir T. DugdaleYes. After consultation with the Smallholdings Advisory Council I have decided that Smallholdings Authorities should have greater freedom, consistent with the provisions of Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947, to administer their smallholdings estates in the way which seems to them most suited to local conditions. In certain areas part-time holdings are an established part of the social structure and are still sought after by ambitious and experienced agricultural workers, for whom they provide a real opportunity for advancement.
I am accordingly informing Smallholdings Authorities that I am prepared to consider proposals for the retention of existing part-time holdings where suitable conditions exist and the authorities are satisfied that a proper standard of husbandry can be maintained. I should also, very exceptionally, be prepared to consider proposals for the creation of new part-time holdings where this does not divert the efforts of Smallholdings Authorities from the main objective of providing full-time holdings.
I am also amending the existing regulations governing the selection of tenants with a view to giving Smallholdings Authorities greater discretion to grant a tenancy to the widow of the former tenant of the holding where the authority is satisfied that the widow has sufficient agricultural knowledge and experience to enable her to run the holding efficiently.