§ Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total area of glasshouses currently in use at the latest available date; and what are the comparable figures for the previous three years.
§ Mr. StrangThe following table gives the total area of glasshouses in the United Kingdom as returned in the June agricultural census each year:
401W
Total Acreage 1973 … … … … 5,086 1972 … … … … 4,798 1971 … … … … 4,846 1970 … … … … 4,802 The returns for June 1974 have not yet been fully analysed. The figures given above include some acreage not being cropped at the time of the census, for which details are not available for the United Kingdom. However, the hon. Member will know that a glasshouse may be used to grow more than one crop in a year.
Estimates are available of the area cropped in glasshouses on holdings in the United Kingdom with 1,000 sq. ft. or more of glass. These are as follows:
June/May Years Acreage Cropped 1973–74 (provisional) … 8,671 1972–73 … 8,015 1971–72 … 7,904 1970–71 … 7,742