HC Deb 08 May 1986 vol 97 cc241-2W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, assuming similar weather patterns in 1986 to 1985, what estimate he has made of the effect, in volume and value terms, by commodity, of the latest common agricultural policy price fixing on surpluses.

Total area of holding
Holdings owned or mainly owned (number '000) Holdings rented or mainly rented (number '000) Area owner occupied (hectares '000) Area rented (hectares '000)
1985 Data
England
Under 2 9.6 1.4 10.1 1.6
2 to 19.9 42.2 10.5 367.6 110.0
20 to 199.9 52.1 28.6 3,398.4 2,076.3
200 and over 5.1 4.2 1,826.8 1,627.8
Total 109.0 44.8 5,602.8 3,815.7
Wales
Under 2 0.7 0.1 0.9 0.1
2 to 19.9 8.6 1.9 83.1 21.4
20 to 199.9 13.2 4.4 786.9 272.6
200 and over 0.7 0.3 227.1 103.3
Total 23.2 6.6 1,097.9 397.3
Scotland
Under 2 0.9 0.7 1.0 0.8
2 to 19.9 4.6 3.8 38.9 32.0
20 to 199.9 110 6.0 827.2 485.2
200 and over 2.3 2.1 2,388.4 1,622.8
Total 18.8 12.6 3,255.5 2,140.8
1980 (Revised Data)
England
Under 2 8.7 1.9 8.8 2.0
2 to 19.9 39.0 13.2 349.1 137.6
20 to 199.9 50.9 33.0 3,266.9 2,323.2
200 and over 4.7 4.3 1,696.9 1,657.6
Total 103.3 52.4 5,321.7 4,120.3
Wales
Under 2 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.1
2 to 19.9 7.7 2.4 78.1 27.3
20 to 199.9 13.0 5.1 751.2 309.5
200 and over 0.6 0.3 215.2 108.8
Total 21.6 7.9 1,045.0 445.7

Mr. Gummer

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1986, c. 492]: The common agricultural policy price fixing includes adjustments to the cereals regime which by changing the intervention arrangements and quality standards will, together with the 3 per cent. co-responsibility levy, substantially reduce the effective level of support. For the milk sector a cut of 3 per cent. in quotas in all member states has been agreed. It is not possible to estimate the effect of these and the other changes on production in 1986 given the many uncertainties, including how producers will respond to the pressure on support prices.