§ 59. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he will take to deal with the position which has arisen in Wales, where, although large numbers of people are anxious to obtain smallholdings, the total number of smallholders has recently decreased.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe councils of counties and county boroughs are responsible for initiating schemes for providing smallholdings and in Wales, as in England, they have been concentrating on bringing their smallholdings up to the standard envisaged by Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947, so that they may provide a reasonable livelihood for the tenant and his family. The effect has been a steady increase in the number of such146W holdings, a policy which has my full approval. I am prepared to approve schemes for new holdings where the cost is not excessive or where the expected increase in food production would be relatively high. Since the end of 1951 I have approved schemes for 12 new smallholdings in Wales.