HC Deb 01 December 1983 vol 49 cc573-4W
Mr. Spence

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the average increases in support prices by the Council of Agriculture Ministers of all products covered by European Community regimes in each year since 1973.

Mr. MacGregor

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Year ending 31 March New planting Restocking Total
hectares acres hectares acres hectares acres
1985 270 (667) 2,585 (6,387) 2,855 (7,054)
1986 220 (544) 2,585 (6,387) 2,805 (6,931)

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are employed by the Forestry Commission in England; what were the corresponding figures for the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Fenner

The number of people employed by the Forestry Commission in England is 2,611. The corresponding figures for 1960, 1970 and 1980 were 6,035, 4,160 and 3,008, respectively.

New planting Restocking Total
hectares acres hectares acres hectares acres
Year ending 31 March:
1983 429 (1,060) 2,027 (5,009) 2,456 (6,069)
1982 558 (1,379) 1,949 (4,816) 2,507 (6,195)
1981 470 (1,161) 1,902 (4,700) 2,372 (5,861)
The corresponding figures in the 1970s were:
1980 898 (2,219) 2,168 (5,357) 3,066 (7,576)
1979 686 (1,695) 1,424 (3,519) 2,110 (5,214)
1978 1,148 (2,837) 1,164 (2,876) 2,312 (5,713)
1977 1,302 (3,217) 1,170 (2,891) 2,472 (6,108)
1976 1,487 (3,674) 1,043 (2,577) 2,530 (6,251)
1975 1,239 (3,061) 1,384 (3,420) 2,623 (6,481)
1974 1,552 (3,835) 1,348 (3,331) 2,900 (7,166)
1973 1,735 (4,287) 1,419 (3,506) 3,154 (7,793)
1972 2,251 (5,562) 1,923 (4,752) 4,174 (10,314)
1971 3,040 (7,512) 2,387 (5,898) 5,427 (13,410)

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of land the Forestry Commission hopes to sell in England during the next three years; and what the estimated revenue will be from such sales.

Mr. Spence

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current excess of the market price over European Community support prices in the United Kingdom of the following: butter, skim milk powder, wheat, barley and sugar.

Mr. MacGregor

Currently market prices in the United Kingdom for butter, skimmed milk powder and barley are close to European Community support prices, taken as the intervention price. The market price for wheat of bread-making quality is estimated to be about 8 per cent. above the reference price and that for sugar about 14 per cent. above the intervention price, taking account of the storage levy.