HC Deb 26 January 1959 vol 598 c67W
3. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the farmers in Shropshire with farms of over five acres are mainly dependent on farming.

Mr. Godber

The Agricultural Returns do not show whether the occupier is mainly dependent upon farming. In June, 1957, 8,164 agricultural holdings in Shropshire were recorded as being of five acres and over of crops and grass. Of these, 2,776 were under 20 acres, the majority of which are likely to be part-time farms. Most of the remaining 5,388 holdings of 20 acres and over will be farms whose occupiers are mainly dependent on farming.