§ Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current rate of annual agricultural expansion; and how this compares with the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. David HowellAlthough figures for making a comparison on the precise basis asked for are not available, a comparison of the expansion in gross agricultural output in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can be made as follows.
Northern Ireland agricultural output for the average of the three years 1964–65 to 1966–67 was valued at £122 million at current prices after allowing for changes in the value of stocks. In the year 1970–71 this figure was £178 million, an increase of £56 million or 46 per cent. above the average of five years earlier.
In the Irish Republic the published figures relate to calendar years. For the average of the three years 1964–66 the value of agricultural output for the Republic was £247 million while in the year 1970 the corresponding figure was £343 million, an increase of £96 million or 39 per cent. above the average of five years earlier.