HC Deb 22 July 1982 vol 28 cc251-2W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his written reply of 19 May, Official Report, c. 177.78, concerning the tonnage of chemical fertilisers, if he will estimate the

Tenure of holdings 1980—England, Scotland, Wales
Owned or mainly owned Tenanted or mainly tenanted
Holding size group—total area (hectares) Number Area Number Area
'000 '000 hectares '000 '000 hectares
England
Under 2 8.7 11.5 1.9 5.6
2 to 19.9 39.0 427.3 13.2 243.1
20 to 199.9 50.9 3,417.0 33.0 2,433.1
200 and over 4.7 1,465.9 4.3 1,438.5
TOTAL 103.3 5,321.7 52.4 4,120.3
Wales
Under 2 0.4 0.7 0.1 0.5
2 to 19.9 7.7 91.3 2.4 44.4
20 to 199.9 13.0 754.8 5.1 307.8
200 and over 0.6 198.2 0.3 92.9
TOTAL 21.6 1,045.0 7.9 445.7
Scotland
Under 2 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.8
2 to 19.9 3.5 31.8 4.4 37.1

extent to which the increase in use was due to an increase in acreage fertilised or to an increase in the quantity used per acre.

Mrs. Fenner

Estimated changes in fertiliser application rates, based on the annual sample survey of fertiliser practice carried out by MAFF and the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association, have been as follows:

Percentage change in fertiliser application rates
Nitrogen Phosphate Potash
1975–76 to 1976–77 + 14.4 -2.6 +5.4
1976–77 to 1977–78 + 2.7 + 5.4 + 2.6
1977–78 to 1978–79 + 6.1 -2.6 0
1978–79 to 1979–80 -1.0 -2.6 0
1979–80 to 1980–81 +8.3 +2.7 +2.5

Between 1975–76 and 1976–77 increases in areas fertilised were estimated to be 6 per cent., 4.4 per cent. and 6.2 per cent. of nitrogen, phosphate and potash respectively. Since that time areas fertilised have remained relatively stable.

Comparable data are not available prior to 1975.76.