HC Deb 25 July 1991 vol 195 cc896-7W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of smallholdings provided by each local authority in Wales in April 1991 and at the same date on each of the previous five years, indicating in each case the number and percentage(a) below 20 hectares, (b) between 20 and 40 hectares and (c) in excess of 40 hectares.

Mr. David Hunt

The figures for 1991 are not available. Statistics for the previous five years collated at 31 March are given in the tables.

(c) in excess of 40 hectares
1990 1989 1988 1987 1986
Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Number Per cent.
Gwynedd 20 11.2 20 11.2 20 11.3 20 11.2 20 11.2
Clwyd 18 10.8 17 9.9 16 8.9 13 7.6 14 8.0
Powys 13 5.6 13 5.4 13 5.4 13 5.3 12 4.9
Dyfed 18 10.3 18 10.3 18 10.3 18 10.3 18 10.3
Gwent 9 8.5 9 8.4 9 8.0 9 8.0 10 8.7
West Glamorgan — — — — — — — — — —
Mid Glamorgan 4 20.0 4 20.0 4 20.0 4 20.0 4 17.4
South Glamorgan 4 10.5 4 10.3 4 9.1 4 8.9 4 8.9
Wales 86 85 84 81 82

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of(a) the area of land available as smallholdings in Wales in the year 1990–91, (b) the increase and decrease compared with the previous year and (c) the adequacy of this land to meet the interests of agriculture in Wales.

Mr. David Hunt

The information for 1990–91 is not yet available. The total area of land provided by local authorities for smallholdings at 31 March 1990 was 20,741 hectares. This was a decrease of 2.9 per cent. on the previous year. The availability of this land provides worthwhile opportunities for new entrants to agriculture.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of tenants of local authority smallholdings(a) in Wales and (b) in each local authority area at 31 March and at the same date for each of the past five years.

Mr. David Hunt

The information for 1990–91 is not yet available. The information as at 31 March for the previous five years is contained in the annual report to Parliament on Smallholdings in Wales (table 3), a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the areas of land held for smallholding by each local authority in Wales on 1 April, or the nearest convenient date, and the same date for each of the past five years.

Mr. David Hunt

The information for 1990–91 is not yet available. The information as at 31 March for the previous five years is contained in the annual report to Parliament on Smallholdings in Wales (table 1), a copy of which is in the Library.