§ Mr. Beithasked the hon. Member for Kingswood, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether it is the policy of the Commissioners in letting farms to give preference, subject to evidence of competence, to farmers' sons wishing to take over tenancies on the death or retirement of their fathers.
§ Mr. Terry WalkerYes. The Commissioners' policy is to accept a tenant's son in succession to his father provided he has proved himself and has adequate financial resources to run the farm at an agreed proper rent. If for some special reason a son who fulfilled these requirements could not be offered the tenancy, the Commissioners would endeavour to offer him the tenancy of another Commissioners' farm at the first opportunity. The Commissioners welcome the fact that the tenancies of many of their farms have been in the same families for generations.