HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 c70W
Mr. Strang

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm workers there were in England and Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of them were dairymen.

Mr. Wiggin

The total numbers of workers employed in agriculture in England and Wales at June each year were:

('000)
1978 3171
1979 303.2
1980 298.7

Estimates deriving from the Ministry's annual wages and employment inquiry, covering a sample of farms, suggest that the numbers of regular whole time hired men classified as dairy cowmen were:

('000)
1978 8.6
1979 8.4
1980 *7.6
* Provisional.