HC Deb 09 February 1998 vol 306 cc74-5W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the operation of the new farm business tenancy agreements; and if he will make a statement. [26995]

Mr. Morley

An independent policy evaluation of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, commissioned by this Department and the Welsh Office, was carried out last year by the University of Plymouth, and the report was recently published. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. The results provide data for England and Wales separately and indicate that uptake of farm business tenancies has been encouraging.