asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many and what acreage of farms and smallholdings are owned by local authorities in each county of England; and which of these authorities have a policy of selling a farm or smallholding to a tenant who wishes to buy his own;(2) what is the total number of local authority owned farms and smallholdings in England; and what is the total acreage of the land involved.
The statistical information requested is given, in so far as it is available, in the annual reports on smallholdings in England, copies of which are in the Library. I am arranging for a copy of the latest report to be sent to my hon. Friend.Policy on sales of smallholdings is a matter for the individual local authority concerned.