HC Deb 10 March 1983 vol 38 c945
12. Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the latest figures relating to farm incomes in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Adam Butler

In 1981–82 net incomes on Northern Ireland farms participating in the farm management survey recovered from the very low levels of the previous two years. Sharply improved average incomes were recorded in the eight farm types recognised in the survey. Taking the average of "all types", net income rose from as little as £2,801 in 1980–81 to £6,992 in 1981–82. This improvement brings incomes back to the 1977–78 level, in current money terms. In real terms they are only 63 per cent. of the 1977–78 level.

Mr. Farr

I thank my hon. Friend for that information. Is he aware that agriculture is the basic industry of Northern Ireland and that welcome though those improvements are there is a long way to go, particularly in the livestock sector, before families can make a living?

Mr. Butler

That is why the Government are ensuring that special aid from national funds and from the EC will be at least as great as it was last year.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

Will the Minister continue to do all that he can to counteract the fallacious impact of percentage increases on income that were recently published by emphasising the abnormally low base upon which those percentages were founded?

Mr. Butler

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that the figures gave a misleading impression by suggesting that farm incomes had gone up in Northern Ireland by 450 per cent. when the base on which that figure started was as little as the equivalent of £14 a week.