Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 January 1997. It was answered by Michael Alison (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 January 1997 on behalf of the Church Commissioners.

Church Commissioners

Question: What factors underlie the defining of a farm for the purpose of calculating the number of tenant farmers as an area of land over 20 hectares.

Answer: Mr. Jones: To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what factors underlie the defining of a farm for the purpose of calculating the number of tenant farmers as an area of land over 20 hectares; and if he will make a statement. [12781] Mr. Alison: As at 31 December 1995, the Commissioners owned more than 55,000 hectares of agricultural land. For reasons of administrative convenience the figure of 20 hectares has been used since 1973 for defining the minimum size of a farm for statistical purposes.

Secondary information