HC Deb 23 May 1975 vol 892 cc639-40W
Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of agricultural holdings returning farmers, partners and directors (at the June agricultural census on the lines of table 63 of the latest volume of the "Digest of Welsh Agricultural Statistics") for June of each year from 1971 onwards for Northern Ireland;

(2) If he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of agricultural holdings and the number of farmers, partners, and directors, for June of each year from 1971 onwards, for Northern Ireland;

(3) If he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the proportion of all farmers, partners, and directors, and those who are whole-time and part-time, respectively, who are returned by agricultural holdings with fewer than 275 standard-man-days, between 275 and 600, and more than 600, respectively, in the latest year for which figures are available in Northern Ireland;

(4) what estimate he has made of the number of independently occupied farm businesses, whole-time and part-time, excluding businesses which are run by persons already counted as the occupiers of other farm businesses in Northern Ireland for each year from 1971 to date.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The information sought by the hon. Member is too voluminous to be published in the Official Report, and I am arranging for it to be sent to him.