§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will specify the number of farmers engaged in(a) lamb, (b) beef and (c) cereal production in Northern Ireland during each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Viggers[holding answer 20 July 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the numbers of farms returning (a) sheep, (b) cattle of one year old and over for slaughter, and (c) cereals, in the agricultural census in June of each year, are as follows:—
June Census Sheep Slaughter cattle one year old and over Cereals 1979 8,243 25,209 10,473 1980 8,398 25,014 10,026 1981 8,369 22,413 9,417 1982 8,607 21,498 8,216 1983 8,837 21,721 7,807 1984 8,986 22,090 7,873 1985 9,372 21,885 7,793 1986 9,650 21,995 7,390 1987 9,971 20,881 6,972 Notes:
1. Between 1980 and 1981, 6,690 very small holdings were excluded from the main census as a result of a change in the threshold for inclusion.
2. Some farms may have returned a combination of the categories.