§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the average number of applications for tenancy per smallholding offered for lease by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland during 1965.
§ Mr. RossEleven smallholdings were advertised for reletting in 1965, and the average number of applications per holding was a little over 30.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average size of smallholdings owned by 1,847 the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. RossThe figures for Departmental holdings outwith the seven crofting counties are as follows:
Year Number of Holdings Total Acreage of Holdings Average Acreage 1961 … 2,029 43,229 21.3 1962 … 2,012 43,245 21.5 1963 … 1,970 43,009 21.8 1964 … 1,911 42,903 22.5 1965 … 1,891 42,253 22.3 These holdings fall into two distinct categories. There are the small type holdings with an average acreage of 7.3 in 1965 and the dairy and livestock rearing holdings with an average acreage of 52.3 in the same year.
The holdings in the crofting counties have been excluded as these are mainly crofts.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many amalgamations have taken place in each of the past five years amongst smallholdings of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland
§ Mr. RossThe numbers are as follows:
1961 … … … 8 1962 … … … 11 1963 … … … 26 1964 … … … 23 1965 … … … 20