§ 53. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many statutory smallholdings, whole time and part time, are administered by local authorities in England and Wales; what is the deficiency incurred; and how this charge is divided between local authorities and the central Government.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsAt 31st March 1963 smallholdings authorities in England 9W and Wales were providing 15,666 statutory smallholdings, of which 8,740 were whole-time and 6,926 part-time. The latest figures of the deficiency incurred relate to the financial year 1961–62.
Contributions by my Department to smallholdings authorities in that year amounted to £723,922. I understand that the part of the deficiency borne on local authorities' rates amounted to approximately £420,000.