Farm Businesses

HC Deb 29 March 1979 vol 965 cc311-3W

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what

which MOD Ministers make paid appointments—all of them part-time—has been collected.

autonomous non-governmental organisation for which he is responsible, the total expenditure for each year to 1977–78 since its establishment.

Mr. Bishop

There is no generally accepted definition of the term quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation. Bodies for which my right hon. Friend has either sole or joint responsibility and which incur substantial expenditure are listed below. To estimate annual expenditure for these bodies since their establishment would involve disproportionate cost. Figures for recent expenditure may be obtained from the published accounts, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

reduction there has been in the number of farm businesses in England and Wales since the United Kingdom joined the EEC.

Mr. Bishop

Between 1973 and 1977 the number of significant agricultural holdings in England and Wales fell by 10,792–5.1 per cent. This is a net figure and is the result of changes in the coverage of the census as well as real factors such as the loss of complete holdings to developments or their sale for a variety of reasons to other farmers. The current decline in the number of holdings is a continuation of a long-established trend.