§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land was sold 28W in 1976 and was bought by farmers, institutions or foreign buyers.
§ Mr. BishopIn the transactions notified to the Inland Revenue in the year ended 30th September 1976, which is the latest information available, just under 2 per cent. of agricultural land in England and Wales changed hands Some 76 per cent. of the land was bought by individuals—usually farmers—20½ per cent. by property and other companies, financial institutions and public authorities, and 31 per cent by "others", which would include foreign Governments.
I regret that it is not possible to identify separately the purchases made by foreign nationals.