HC Deb 06 February 1986 vol 91 cc253-4W
11. Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the aggregate profit in 1985 for livestock farms employing labour.

Mrs. Fenner

I regret that aggregate farming income is not collected on a basis which enables it to be split by sector or according to whether labour is employed.

15. Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent trends in farm incomes.

18. Mr. Bruce

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent fall in farm incomes.

Mr. Gummer

The White Paper on the annual review of agriculture presented to Parliament last month showed that farming income in the United Kingdom for 1985 is forecast to fall by 43 per cent. to £1,154 following a 35 per cent. rise in 1984. The decline is of course particularly marked because of the exceptionally poor weather during 1985.

45. Mr. Maclennan

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the light of the drop in agricultural incomes set out in the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1986", Cmnd. 9708, what steps he intends to take to arrest and reverse their decline.

Mrs. Fenner

The drop in farming income during 1985 was mainly due to the bad weather. Weather is one of the risks that the farming industry must expect to face, but because of the exceptionally adverse situation of some livestock producers almost £17 million was made available as special weather aid for those who were worst affected. We will continue our efforts aimed at promoting an efficient and prosperous agriculture within the context of an economical and fair common agricultural policy.

56. Mr. Kennedy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the net income of agriculture in the calendar year 1985 and express that amount as a percentage of the net income of agriculture in the calendar year 1984.

Mrs. Fenner

Table 23 of the White Paper. Annual Review of Agriculture 1986 (Cmnd. 9708) shows various income indicators. Farming income in 1985 is forecast at £1,154 million and represents 57 per cent. of farming income in the previous year. Farm business income—a broader based measure—is forecast at £2,223 million and represents 75 per cent. of farming income in 1984.

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