HC Deb 28 March 1984 vol 57 c223W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his written reply dated 5 March, Official Report, column 436, concerning the number of whole-time farmers working holdings of 100 hectares and over, whether he will publish in the Official Report the breakdown between the numbers in each category and their spouses, together with the number of holdings in the category, the number owned by corporate bodies and the number owned by partnerships.

Mr. MacGregor

The agricultural census in England and Wales in June 1983 recorded 44,453 whole-time or part-time farmers, partners and directors on 26,432 agricultural holdings of 100 hectares and over: of these 9,583 had spouses engaged in farmwork on 8,360 holdings. The information by categories (whole-time or part-time farmers, partners and directors) could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for other parts of the United Kingdom are not available. The number of holdings owned by corporate bodies or by partnerships is not known.