HC Deb 15 May 1970 vol 801 cc365-6W
Mr. G. Johnson Smith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average acreage of farms in the administrative County of East Sussex in the years 1960, 1965 and 1970.

Mr. Mackie:

The figures, which relate to agricultural holdings exceeding one acre in extent, are as follows:

1960 1965 1969
acres acres acres
Crops and Grass only (i.e. excluding rough grazing) 63 71 96

Figures for 1970 are not yet available.

Some holdings with small acreage and output were removed from the agricultural census in 1968. The figures for 1969 are therefore on a slightly different basis from those for the earlier years; but after adjustment for this difference, it is estimated that the average size in 1965 would have been about 75 acres.

Mr. G. Johnson Smith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of farm employees in the administrative County of East Sussex for the years 1960, 1965 and 1970.

Mr. Mackie:

The number of workers on agricultural holdings at June in East Sussex was:

1960 9,986 workers
1965 7,660 workers
1969 5,963 workers

Figures for 1970 are not yet available.

Source:—June Agricultural Census. These include regular wholetime, regular part-time and seasonal and casual workers, both hired and family, i.e. all persons working on the holding except the farmer and his wife.