HC Deb 19 July 1984 vol 64 cc273-4W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the annual average outgoings in rental and mortgage charges, respectively, for specialist dairy farmers in Wales at the latest available date.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Information is not available showing annual average outgoings on rental and mortgage charges for specialist dairy farms alone. Relevant figures for actual and imputed rentals are given in "Farm Accounts in Wales 1982–83" published by the Welsh Office, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of specialist dairy farmers in Wales with holdings under freehold and rental tenure, respectively.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The numbers of holdings classified as "specialist dairy" in the agricultural census at June 1983, by tenure, are as follows:

Total area Number of holdings
Wholly owned 3,110
Wholly rented 1,033
Mixed tenure:
50 per cent.—99.9 per cent, owned 729
50 per cent.—99.9 per cent, rented 399
Total 5,271

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the net income of specialist dairy farmers in Wales with herds of under 40 and 50 cows, respectively.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Information is not available in the precise form requested. Farm management survey data are analysed by size of business measured in European size units (ESU) and the relevant 1982–83 data for specialist dairy farms are as follows:

Size of business(ESU) Average number of dairy cows Average net farm income*
£
4—7.9 22 2,106
8—15.9 38 7,705
16—23.9 65 11,504
* Net farni income is defined as total farm output less total inputs excluding farmer and spouse labour and interest on any farming loans. It there fore represents the return to the farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on tenant-type capital.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the average net income of specialist dairy farmers in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The latest figures available from the farm management survey show that in 1982–83 net income per farm averaged £9,776 on specialist dairy farms with business sizes from four to 100 European size units.

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