§ Dr, StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 8 February 1993]: Figures for severely disadvantaged areas are not readily available. However, the employment information requested for holdings within the Scottish less-favoured areas is set out in the table below. Information for the years prior to 1982 is not available.
Number 1982 10,109 1983 9,993 1984 9,544 1985 9,393 1986 8,607 1987 8,133 1988 7,855 1989 7,609 1990 7,264 1991 6,916 1992 6,658 Source: Scottish June Agricultural Census. Figures are hired male and female full time regular staff who are not members of the occupier's family.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the level of indebtedness among mostly sheep farmers and sheep and beef farmers, respectively, in the severely disadvantaged areas for each year since 1978.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 8 February 1993]: The information requested is set out in the table. Figures are available only since 1986–87.
849W
LFA mainly sheep farms LFA sheep and cattle farms Total1 liabilities Total liabilities as a percentage of total assets2 Total1 liabilities Total liabilities as a percentage of total assets2 £ per farm £ per farm 1986–87 19,000 13.5 32,000 16.8 1987–88 21,000 12.7 36,000 18.1 1988–89 16,000 10.5 33,000 15.1 1989–90 18,000 10.6 35,000 16.7 1990–91 22,000 13.3 34,000 15.7 1991–92 21,000 11.6 36,000 16.3 Source: Scottish Farm Accounts Scheme: Owner-occupied and tenanted farm results weighted together.
1 Liabilities include bank loans, overdrafts and other long and short term loans.
2 Total assets includes land and buildings, machinery, vehicles and breeding livestock, and current assets.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 farmers and sheep and beef farmers in total for Scotland since 1978; and if he will chart the change.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 8 February 1993]: Information for severely disadvantaged areas is not readily available. The information requested comparing sheep and cattle and sheep holdings within the Scottish less-favoured areas with such holdings in Scotland as a whole is set out in the table. Information prior to 1982 is not available.
Percentage of mainly sheep and cattle and sheep holdings in the Scottish LFA in relation to the numbers of such holdings in Scotland
as a whole
Per cent. 1982 60.1 1983 60.6 1984 62.8 1985 64.0 1986 69.2 1987 69.7 1988 70.1 1989 69.2 1990 68.6 1991 70.3 1992 71.5 Source: Derived from Scottish June Agricultural Census.