HC Deb 23 January 2001 vol 361 c517W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings were registered as at 1 January; and of that number how many were classified as smallholdings. [146641]

Ms Quin

The number of agricultural holdings in England registered at 1 January 2001 isMain holdings: 123,911 Minor holdings: 31,012

Notes: A holding is classified as minor if all the following criteria are true:

  1. a. the total area is less than 6 hectares
  2. b. there is no regular whole-time farmer or worker
  3. c. the estimated annual labour requirement is less than 100 days (of eight hours productive work by an adult worker under average conditions)
  4. d. the glasshouse area is less than 100 square metres
  5. e. the occupier does not farm another building.
If any of these conditions is not satisfied, the holding is categorised as "main".