§ Mr. Clemitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state in the form of an index with the year 1960 as base year, what the total volume of agricultural production, the numbers employed in agriculture and the average income of agricultural workers, respectively, were in 1965, 1970, 1975, and the latest year for which statistics are available.
§ Mr. StrangThe following table gives information for the years specified:
UNITED KINGDOM Index of gross output*† (calendar year) Index of numbers employed in agriculture‡ (June census) Index of average earnings in agriculture of full time men 20 years and over§ (year ending 30 September) 1960 … 100 100 100║ 1965 … 117 80 130¶ 1970 … 124 62 180 1975 … 124 55 404 1978 … 136 53 593 (forecast) * Gross output indicates changes in the volume of agricultural produce, stocks and work in progress. † Because of changes in concepts and methodology there is no continuous series of gross output figures at constant prices over the period 1960–1978. Indices derived from existing series of constant priced estimates have been linked and arithmetically converted to show 1960 as 100. ‡ The index relates to all workers whether full or part time, seasonal or casual and includes all family as well as hired workers, but excludes farmers, partners, directors and their spouses. Figures are not all strictly comparable with one another because of changes in the England and Wales census categories in 1970 and 1972. § Earnings which include overtime, bonuses and payments in kind are based on the returns of agricultural wages inspectors. ║ Figure includes estimate for Northern Ireland. ¶ Year ending 31 May in Northern Ireland