§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total income of Scottish farmers in each of the past five years and (b) the equivalent income which would have been achieved in the event of the green pound being brought to parity.
661W
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation about the total incomes of Scottish farmers, including income from nonagricultural activities is not available for this period. However, the aggregate net agricultural income of Scottish farmers between 1982 and 1986 was as follows:
£ million 1982 140 1983 96 1984 186 1985 36 1986 91 An estimate for 1987 and possible revisions to 1986 and 1985 will emerge from this winter's annual review of agriculture, which is now in its late stages.
The effect of the green pound on farmer's incomes is to a large extent indirect and no estimates are available of the effects of different rates on income levels for the five-year period, during which time sterling's green rate has been both above and below its market rate.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage change in farm incomes in Scotland for the most recent 12-month period for which information is available; and what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythFarm income figures are published in the form of aggregate net agricultural income, excluding income from non-agricultural activities. The following are the percentage changes in aggregate net agricultural income in Scotland between calendar years from 1979 to 1986. An estimate for 1987 will emerge from this winter's annual review of agriculture, which is in its late stages.
Percentage 1979 to 1980 -61 1980 to 1981 +185 1981 to 1982 +65 1982 to 1983 -31 1983 to 1984 +93 1984 to 1985 -80 1985 to 1986 +152