HC Deb 23 March 1971 vol 814 cc77-8W
Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest forecast for aggregate farming net income for 1970–71, represented as a percentage of farming net income for 1964–65 at constant prices.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The purchasing power of aggregate farming net income as forecast for 1970–71 is estimated to he some 92 per cent. of the figure for 1964–65, using the Consumer Price Index as the means of adjustment to constant money values.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the real net income per farm for each of the years from 1963–64.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Accounts collected for about 2,500 farms annually in England and Wales gives information for successive parts of years. When adjusted to 1963–64 prices by changes in the Consumer Price Index, the figures for average net income for full-time farms (275–4199 standard man-days: all types excluding horticulture) are:

£ per farm
1963–64 1,491
1964–65 1,798
1964–65 1,825
1965–66 1,710
1965–66 1,699
1966–67 1,540
1966–67 1,547
1967–68 1,767
1967–68 1,934
1968–69 1,552
1968–69 1,582
1969–70 1,647

These figures must be treated with caution because of the changes in the sample from year to year and changes of concept within the period. There is, for example, a large difference between the two figures for 1967–68. This is due to change in the assessments of standard man-day equivalents made in 1968.