HC Deb 04 May 2004 vol 420 cc1385-6W
Jim Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on farm income levels for farmers in Heywood and Middleton in the past five years. [168435]

Alun Michael

Due to the small number of farms in Heywood and Middleton, there is no robust data available on farm incomes for farmers in that area over the last five years. Net farm income for farms in the EU North Region and for England over the last five years are show in the table.

Net farm income
Eu North Region England
1998–99 8.272 10,359
1999–2000 8,659 7,981
2000–01 12,456 9,886
2000–02 16,457 13,558
2002–03 18,512 16,435
Source:
Farm Business Survey

Net farm income is the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and to the tenant-type capital of the business.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average level of farm income for farmers is Burnley was in the past five years. [168303]

Alun Michael

Due to the small number of farms in Burnley, there is no robust data available on farm incomes for farmers in that area over the last five years. Net farm income for farms in the EU North Region and for England over the last five years are show in the following table.

Net farm income
EU North Region England
1998–99 8,272 10,359
1999–2000 8,659 7,981
2000–01 12,456 9,886
Net farm income
EU North Region England
2001–02 16,457 13,558
2002–03 18,512 16,435
Source:
Farm Business Survey

Net farm income is the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and to the tenant-type capital of the business.