HC Deb 10 July 1984 vol 63 cc488-9W
Mr. John Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the numbers of unemployed on the last available date, giving percentages for the Port Talbot and Neath travel-to-work areas, respectively, for all persons, male, female, and young persons; and how many have been unemployed for six months, 12 months, two years or more, and giving the same figures for May 1979 and the percentage increase of the 1984 figures over May 1979.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

Figures for 1984 and 1979 are not directly comparable. Those for 1984 are based on numbers of people claiming unemployment benefit; those for 1979 re late to people registered as unemployed. The available information is as follows:

hectare of dairy farmland, the average size dairy farm holding in hectares and the average size dairy herd in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Figures on land values by type of farming are not available. The average total area of holdings classified as "specialist dairy" or "mainly dairy" in June 1983 was 48.7 hectares, and the average number of dairy cows on these farm types was 49.5. The average number of dairy cows on all types of holdings with dairy cows was 45.5.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for Wales, the number of dairy farm holdings with less than 60 cows, between 60 and 100 cows, between 100 and 200 cows and over 200 cows.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The information, as at June 1983, is as follows:

Dairy cows size groups Number of holdings
1– 59 6,088
60– 99 1,512
100–199 591
Over 200 69

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for Wales, the total number of full-time dairy farmers, the total number of full-time dairy farm workers and the total number of full-time employees in ancillary industries; and if he will now estimate the number of jobs which will be lost in each of the above categories as a result of the proposed European Economic Community dairy industry quotas in the present financial year.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The total number of full-time principal farmers, partners and directors on holdings classified as "specialist dairy" or "mainly dairy" farms in June 1983 was 8,127. The number of full-time workers on these holdings totalled 3,283. There is no readily available definition of ancillary industries; however, in 1981, 3,000 were engaged full-time in the preparation of milk and milk products in the manufacturing industry.

No forecast can be made of the number of jobs which may be lost. It will be for all sectors of the industry to make decisions about their own enterprises.

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