HC Deb 30 October 1975 vol 898 c575W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons are employed full time in farming actively in England and Wales at the latest available date; and how many were so engaged 10 and 20 years earlier.

Mr. Strang

The following is the information available about the numbers of persons employed full time in agriculture, including horticulture, in England and Wales at June 1975 and in earlier years:

Thousands
1955 1965 1975*
Full-time workers 478.7 313.0 190.9
Full-time farmers, partners and directors 166.4
Total Not available 357.3
* Provisional.
† Not collected before 1970.

source: June Agricultural census.

The number of workers in 1975 is not directly comparable with the 1955 and 1965 figures because:

  1. (i) they include managerial and clerical workers and exclude non-principal partners; and
  2. (ii) changes have taken place in the definition of holdings included in the agricultural census.