HC Deb 19 July 1973 vol 860 cc222-4W
Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of owner-occupied farms in Scotland, the total of tenanted farms and the total employment in agriculture at the most recent convenient date, and the corresponding figures in the previous five years.

Farm Tenure* Agricultural Employment †
Owner-occupied or Mainly Owner-occupied Tenanted or Mainly Tenanted Total Numbers of Farmers and Workers
Number of Holdings '000 Percentage of Total Number of Holdings '000 Percentage of Total '000 '000
June 1972 … … 18.0 47.5 19.9 52.5 37.9 74.1
June 1971 … … 17.9 47.0 20.2 53.0 38.1 75.7
June 1970 … … 17.8 46.4 20.5 53.6 38.3 76.8
June 1969 … … 17.8 45.5 21.3 54.5 39.1 77.8
June 1968 … … 17.8 45.1 21.7 54.9 39.5 80.4
June 1967 … … 17.5 44.2 22.2 55.8 39.7 84.9
* Excludes "statistically insignificant" holdings, of which there were 16,000 in 1970.
† Farmer numbers are estimated.

Agricultural employment at June 1973 is provisionally estimated at 73,500.

Camping Sites (Medical Information) Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue guidance to local authorities to prepare for holiday camps, caravan sites, etc., a wall chart of simple medical and first-aid information with a view to reducing the pressure on local medical practitioners in tourist areas.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Local authorities have ample powers to prepare and display health education material, but it is perhaps open to doubt whether a wall chart could provide sufficient information to reduce the pressure on medical practitioners. I am, however, always ready to consider whether more can be done to help doctors who are shown to be experiencing special difficulty.

Auchinleck Health Centre Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made so far on the Auchinleck Health Centre project.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The information available relates to agricultural holdings and is as follows:

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Tenders are at present being examined and a decision with regard to acceptance of a tender will be reached within the period for acceptance, which expires on 26th August 1973.