§ 27. Mr. Stodartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the annual rate of increase of agricultural output has been in the last six years; and how this compares with the expansion proposed by the Government in the National Plan.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIn the six years to 1969–70, the annual average rate of increase in agricultural net output was 2.2 per cent. per annum. No precise figure for increased net output was set for the expansion proposed under the National Plan.
§ Mr. StodartWas there not a very clearly implied increase in the National Plan of 3 per cent.? Was not 3 per cent. per annum the rate of increase of the last few years under a Conservative Administration, and in view of the complete and utter fiasco of the Government's expansion programme, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us why he continues to sit where he does?
§ Mr. HughesThe hon. Gentleman is getting uncharacteristically melodramatic. 1377 It is true that a figure of 3.5 per cent. per annum was given in the National Plan for agriculture, forestry and fishing. But that figure was based on the industry's own assessment of the technical possibilities for increasing output over the Plan period. On the second part of the hon. Gentleman's dramatic question, the present Government were the first to provide broad expansion objectives over a period of years. That is more than the Conservatives did when in office. Then some increased output was achieved in spite of restrictive policies, such as setting standard quantities, which we have abolished.
| Estimated number of self-employed* in agriculture | Number of Regular Whole-time Workers in Agriculture at June | |||||||
| United Kingdom | United Kingdom | Cornwall | ||||||
| Males | Females | Males | Females | |||||
| 1951 | … | … | … | 419,000 | 621,700 | 70,000 | 10,647 | 975 |
| 1964 | … | … | … | 360,000 | 380,700 | 33,600 | 6,481 | 426 |
| 1969 | … | … | … | 333,000 | 281,100 | 26,900 | 4,857 | 329 |
| * Based on the figures in the Population Censuses, for persons describing their occupations as one classifiable to agriculture. These estimates may include some working part-time. Estimates for Cornwall only are not available. | ||||||||
| † Returned in the Agricultural Censuses. Since these include all persons working on the holding except the farmer and his wife they include family workers and junior partners, some of whom are self-employed. Hence there is some overlap with the numbers of employers and self-employed, though the extent of this is not known |
§ 31. Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of farm businesses in the United Kingdom and in Cornwall, respectively, in 1951, 1964 and the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MackieFor the years in question, the number of holdings as shown in the Agricultural Census were, for the United Kingdom, 536,000, 445,000 and 357,000; and for Cornwall, 14,000, 12,000 and 10,000. The numbers of farm businesses cannot be estimated precisely, but are somewhat less.
Since 1964, some 50,000 holdings in England and Wales, of which 1,700 were in Cornwall, have been excluded from the Census.
§ Mr. PardoeI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Does he expect the present rate of decrease in holdings to continue? Can he make some projections for us today?
§ Mr. MackieThat is a very difficult question. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have an amalgamation scheme. We do not see why there should be a decrease