Farmers and Non-Farm Businesses (Hansard, 10 February 1982)

§ Lord Davies of Leek
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ Lord Sandys
My Lords, I regret that this information is not available. There appears to have been a considerable increase over the last decade, and especially in the past year or so, in the number of farmers who are involved in tourism. Some are providing recreation and sports facilities but few seem to be starting craft and light industrial enterprises on their farms.

§ Lord Davies of Leek
My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware of the importance of the agricultural industry to British balance of payments and the need to keep viable agriculture going in this country? Furthermore, is he aware that tourism and the establishment of caravan sites, et cetera, are of paramount importance, particularly to the farmer with the small acreage, in creating a viable economy for the farmer and his wife? If possible, would the Minister tell me whether the Ministry and the tourist organisations are still encouraging these activities in small farms; and, if so, he may know the number of farms which over the past 10 years have had these facilities given to them? I hope that the Government will continue to give them.

§ Lord Sandys
Yes, my Lords; the Government are very well aware that the effects of agriculture on the balance of payments have been very beneficial. With regard to the number of farms involved in tourism, this has doubled over the past 10 years, the noble Lord will be glad to hear, from about 12,000 to 24,000. In addition, over 1,500 provide agricultural sports facilities on their farms.

§ Lord Sandford
My Lords, I too would like to thank my noble friend for his answer to the noble Lord's Question, although I believe he would agree that it was somewhat incomplete and slightly approximate. I should like to ask my noble friend three questions. First, does he recall the Wildlife and Countryside Act (although he may not want to recall it) in Section 51(I)(b) and (c) of which Parliament laid upon the Ministry of Agriculture statutory duties of making provision for the giving of advice to farmers, on the one hand, and to statutory agencies and Government departments, on the other hand, about the diversification of farm enterprises? Would he agree that, with that duty laid upon them, it is incumbent upon them to inform themselves about this process in rather more detail? Thirdly, if some three or four months after the next agricultural census, which I believe is to be taken in June this year, I put down a similar Question, can my noble friend say whether it could be answered rather more precisely?

§ Lord Sandys
My Lords, I have to inform my noble friend Lord Sandford that the section to which he refers, which was known as "the Sandford amendment" and bears his name, is Section 41(1)(b). My noble friend will be glad to hear that the Ministry has taken urgent action over this. There are seven specialist advisers and 70 staff engaged in offering advice at a local level. As to a further Question to elucidate the numbers of those involved in this parti- 175 cular activity, I believe it might be a little early if my noble friend put down a Question in June, but I will take advice.

§ Lord Northfield
My Lords, with reference to the starting of light industrial and craft enterprises in farm buildings, does the noble Lord recall the Department of the Environment's circular asking planning authorities to be less strict in allowing such applications? Is the noble Lord aware that we still get rumours, and indeed cases, where local planning authorities are being very restrictive in allowing these conversions to take place? Will the noble Lord check whether that circular needs some further follow-up action in order to encourage local authorities to relax their restrictions in this matter?

§ Lord Sandys
Yes, my Lords. So far as the application of the regulations to farm buildings is concerned, I would like to remind the noble Lord that there is a particularly successful project at the moment in Cumbria, at East Fellside, of which he may be aware, which concerns precisely this area. It may indeed lead other local authorities who may be reluctant to take up this particular type of activity to do so. I will certainly draw to the attention of my right honourable friend the circular and the need for some action in this regard.

§ Lord Kaldor
My Lords, is the Minister satisfied that the various forms of diversification of farming communities do not have any detrimental effect on agricultural productivity?

§ Lord Sandys
My Lords, I think in this regard diversification so often is a matter of choice for the farmers concerned, and I think it is best left in their hands.

Lord Hunt
My Lords, just in case any of your Lordships are not familiar with Section 41, and in the light of the exchanges between the noble Lord, Lord Sandford, and the Minister, would it be in order for me to mention that Section 41 has particularly to do with the national parks? Will the noble Lord the Minister bear in mind the particular importance of the implications of the noble Lord's original Question to the national parks, and the need for farmers working and living in the national parks to have opportunity and encouragement for this diversification?

§ Lord Sandys
My Lords, yes. I will certainly draw my right honourable friend's attention to the remarks the noble Lord has made and to the earlier exchanges.

§ Lord Davies of Leek
My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that in parts of the country, for example in the Peak District, most of the visitors to these farm sites and other sites are paying particular attention to the amenities of the national parks and are now beginning to treat them in the way they should be treated by citizens going into these beautiful areas?