§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the numbers of ewes in September, 1971, and September, 1970, respectively.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartScotland and Northern Ireland do not have a sheep census in September. The figures for England and Wales are:
September, 1970 September, 1971 (thousands) Ewes kept for breeding 6,622 6,684 Shearling ewes (or gimmers) 1,332 1,384 Draft and cast ewes 620 574 Total Ewes 8,574 8,642 These figures are estimates derived from holdings in a one-third sample of parishes and are liable to a degree of sampling error.