HC Deb 20 July 1988 vol 137 cc622-3W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will specify the number of farmers engaged in(a) lamb, (b) beef and (c) cereal production in Wales during each year since 1979.

Mr. Peter Walker

Information is not available in exactly the form requested but the numbers of holdings engaged in the three enterprises are given in the table:

Number of main holdings with:
Sheep and Lambs Beef Breeding Cows1 Cereals
1979 16,865 13,301 7,383
1980 16,181 12,543 7,211
1981 16,190 12,139 6,750
1982 16,304 11,839 6,432
1983 16,452 11,303 5,758
1984 16,563 11,483 5,653
1985 16,770 11,903 5,664
1986 16,938 10,907 5,396
1987 17,180 11,166 5,228
1Excludes store cattle.

Source: June Agricultural Census