Severely Disadvantaged Areas (Hansard, 8 February 1993)

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers were in receipt of hill livestock compensatory allowances in the severely disadvantaged areas according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978.

§ Mr. Gummer
Precise annual figures covering this period are not available but the number of claimants paid each year under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme to farmers with holdings located either wholly or partially within the severely disadvantaged area, or the corresponding area prior to the extension of the less-favoured areas in 1985, has declined marginally from about 52,300 in 1980 to 51,500 in 1991.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many regular full-time hired farm workers are employed on farm holdings in the severely disadvantaged areas according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978.

§ Mr. Gummer
The number of regular full-time hired farm workers employed on farm holdings in the severely disadvantaged areas in England for each year since 1978 is shown in the table.

Regular full-time hired workers on holdings¹ in the severely disadvantaged area² in England at June each year

Year Number of regular full-time hired workers

1978 3,062

1979 3,142

1980 2,982

1981 2,997

1982 2,933

1983 2,763

1984 2,628

1985 2,514

—³

1986 3,301

1987 3,098

1988 3,016

1989 2,888

1990 2,794

1991 2,646

1992 2,533

¹ Minor holdings are excluded.

² Workers on holdings with either all or part of their land in the

504W
severely disadvantaged areas have been included.
³ Between 1985 and 1986 the method of classification of holdings used in the June census was changed. Subsequently, the figures below the line are not comparable with those above it.
Source: June Census of Agriculture and Horticulture each year.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes there have been in the proportion of mostly sheep and sheep and beef farmers in severely disadvantaged areas in relation to the number of mostly sheep and sheep and beef farmers in total for England since 1978; and if he will chart the change.

§ Mr. Gummer
The number of mostly sheep¹ and sheep and beef holdings² located either wholly or partially within the English severely disadvantaged areas, or the corresponding areas before the extension of the less-favoured areas in 1985, as a percentage of such holdings in England is shown in the table:

Year per cent.

1978 42

1979 40

1980 41

1981 41

1982 39

1983 38

1984 37

1985 36

1986 37

1987 36

1988 34

1989 33

1990 35

1991 33

1992 32

¹ EC Farm type 441

² EC Farm type 442

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978, how many farmers within less-favoured areas designated severely disadvantaged receive a level of farm income at or below the level at which a family of two adults and two children of school ages 13 and 17 could expect to be entitled to family credit at the current rates.

§ Mr. Gummer
The information requested is not available.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the level of indebtedness among mostly sheep and sheep and beef farmers, respectively, in the severely disadvantaged areas for each year since 1978.

§ Mr. Gummer
The following table shows the average level of total external liabilities from a sample of mainly sheep and cattle and sheep farms in the severely disadvantaged areas of England, together with the proportion that these represent of total assets.
505W

Average indebtedness of livestock farms wholly or partly in the severely disadvantaged area in England¹

Mainly sheep farms Cattle and sheep farms

Accounting year² Total external liabilities £ thousands per farm External liabilities as a percentage of total assets Per cent. Total external liabilities £ thousands per farm External liabilities as a percentage of total assets Per cent.

1979–80 ³— ³— 15.4 9

1980–81 ³— ³— 17.1 9

1981–82 ³— ³— 20.2 10

1982–83 ³— ³— 22.1 12

1983–84 22.5 13 28.8 10

1984–85 13.6 8 31.4 11

1985–86 22.8 11 32.2 12

1986–87 31.8 14 36.3 14

1987–88 38.4 17 36.8 14

1988–89 40.1 17 42.0 14

1989–90 45.6 18 46.9 14

1990–91 37.3 15 50.0 14

1991–92 39.2 16 49.9 16

¹ All data based on closing valuations.

² Ending on average mid-February.

³ Sample too small to give reliable results.

Regular full-time hired workers on holdings¹ in the severely disadvantaged area² in England at June each year
Year	Number of regular full-time hired workers
1978	3,062
1979	3,142
1980	2,982
1981	2,997
1982	2,933
1983	2,763
1984	2,628
1985	2,514
—³
1986	3,301
1987	3,098
1988	3,016
1989	2,888
1990	2,794
1991	2,646
1992	2,533
¹ Minor holdings are excluded.
² Workers on holdings with either all or part of their land in the

Year	per cent.
1978	42
1979	40
1980	41
1981	41
1982	39
1983	38
1984	37
1985	36
1986	37
1987	36
1988	34
1989	33
1990	35
1991	33
1992	32
¹ EC Farm type 441
² EC Farm type 442

Average indebtedness of livestock farms wholly or partly in the severely disadvantaged area in England¹
	Mainly sheep farms	Cattle and sheep farms
Accounting year²	Total external liabilities £ thousands per farm	External liabilities as a percentage of total assets Per cent.	Total external liabilities £ thousands per farm	External liabilities as a percentage of total assets Per cent.
1979–80	³—	³—	15.4	9
1980–81	³—	³—	17.1	9
1981–82	³—	³—	20.2	10
1982–83	³—	³—	22.1	12
1983–84	22.5	13	28.8	10
1984–85	13.6	8	31.4	11
1985–86	22.8	11	32.2	12
1986–87	31.8	14	36.3	14
1987–88	38.4	17	36.8	14
1988–89	40.1	17	42.0	14
1989–90	45.6	18	46.9	14
1990–91	37.3	15	50.0	14
1991–92	39.2	16	49.9	16
¹ All data based on closing valuations.
² Ending on average mid-February.
³ Sample too small to give reliable results.