HC Deb 07 March 1985 vol 74 cc564-5W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the ratio of indebtedness to operating capital in agriculture.

Mr. MacGregor

Ratios of the external liabilities to the assets of farm businesses in England, according to farm tenure type, are shown in table 32 of the report "Farm Incomes in England, 1983/84". A copy of this report is in the Library of the House.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the statistics in table 23B of Cmnd. 9423 are all on an historic cost basis, and if he will publish in the Official Report corresponding figures for any of the columns for any of the years 1966 to 1970.

Mr. MacGregor

The figures in table 23B of Cmnd. 9423 are calculated on a current cost basis. Corresponding figures for 1966 to 1970 are not readily available.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in fanning income on an historic cost basis since the average of the years 1967–68 to 1969–70.

Mr. MacGregor

The information on an historic cost basis is not available.