HC Deb 03 March 1971 vol 812 cc471-2W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent up to 31st December, 1970 on grants under the Farm Improvement Scheme for the uprooting of hedges; what is the approximate total length of hedges uprooted; and what has been the effect on the yield of crops in surrounding arable land.

2. The calculation of net income in Northern Ireland differs from that for Great Britain largely because of differences in the ownership of land and the greater incidence in Northern Ireland of family labour.

3. Full-time farms are defined as having a labour requirement of 275 standard-man days or over in Great Britain and 200 or over in Northern Ireland. A standard-man day is eight hours of adult male labour under average conditions.

4. Differences in the average level of net income between countries reflect, in part, differences in the average size of farm business and in types of farming. In 1968–69 the average sizes of full-time business was:

  • Northern Ireland—468 standard man days.
  • England—885 standard man days.
  • Wales—624 standard man days.
  • Scotland—970 standard man days.