§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) bankruptcies and (b) people employed there were in the farming industry in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–2002; and what was the average income in the industry in each of these years. [51293]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 29 April 2002]: (a) Data on bankruptcies are available for England and Wales combined, and are given in the table.
Number of bankruptcies1 in the agricultural and horticultural sector: England and Wales 1999–2001 1999 2000 12001 Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals 183 173 136 Company2 insolvencies 75 67 67 Total 258 240 203 1 First three quarters only 2 Including partnerships Source:
Department of Trade and Industry
(b) Data on the labour force in agriculture and average income for England are given in the table.
Total labour force in agriculture and total income from farming per whole-time person equivalent.
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 30 April 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that we expect France to lift its ban as soon as possible. It is for the Commission to take action to enforce EU law and it has asked France for an explanation of its failure to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Justice 781W (ECJ). This is the first stage in a process which may lead to a further ECJ case against France and the imposition of penalties for failure to comply with the Court's Judgment in December 2001 that the French ban on imports of UK beef exported under the Date-based Export Scheme is illegal.