HC Deb 18 April 1990 vol 170 cc946-7W
Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the acreage of agricultural land sold during the last financial year by local authorities.

Mr. Curry

Details for the last financial year (1989–90) are not yet available. In 1988–89 local authorities in England and Wales sold 887 hectares from their smallholdings estates.

Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average size of agricultural holding owned by local authorities in England and Wales; and what was the figure 10 years ago.

Mr. Curry

The average size of agricultural holdings owned by local authorities in England and Wales was 22.6 hectares in 1988–89 compared with 18.9 hectares in 1979–80.