HC Deb 11 March 1968 vol 760 c225W
Miss Quennell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many full-time medium-sized egg producers were trading at 1st March, 1968 compared with the same date for the past five years.

Mr. Hoy

The number of agricultural holdings with laying flocks of 1,000–4,999 birds returned at the June census for England and Wales in each of the last five years was:

Number of holdings with 1,000–4,999 laying birds
1963* 6,585
1964 7,268
1965 6,392
1966 5,892
1967 5,451
* Changes in the census questionnaire after 1963 may have affected comparability with later figures.

It is not possible accurately to distinguish between full-time and part-time egg producers, but it is estimated that about 90 per cent. of the laying flocks in this size group were on full-time agricultural holdings.