HC Deb 13 March 1980 vol 980 cc707-8W
Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the sale of county council smallholdings; what is his estimate of

(a) the Channel Islands, (b) Cyprus and (c) other sources, into Great Britain in each month in 1979, for human consumption; and what was the average price per ton in each month at the port of entry.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

This information is as follows:

the number of sales, including the number of acres or hectares, made by county councils in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wiggin

It is the Government's policy to leave decisions on the sale of smallholdings to the individual county councils concerned.

Figures of sales of smallholdings land in England and Wales for the 10 years to 1978–79, which are the latest available, are as follows:

Year ending 31 March Hectares
1969–70 328
1970–71 529
1971–72 537
1972–73 1,089
1973–74 430
1974–75 274
1975–76 285
1976–77 220
1977–78 437
1978–79 1,700