§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are at present employed in agriculture and related employment in the United Kingdom, the English regions, Wales,
Table 1 Numbers engaged on agricultural holdings: 1958–1987 Thousands Farmers, partners and directors (doing farm work) Spouses of farmers, partners and directors (doing farm work) Salaried managers All workers Total labour force 1987 United Kingdom 284.9 76.9 7.9 297.3 666.9 England 188.4 51.9 7.0 236.0 483.2 Wales 33.8 7.8 0.3 19.7 65.6 Scotland 27.2 7.8 0.6 23.0 58.6 Northern Ireland 35.4 5.3 not collected 18.6 59.4 1978 United Kingdom 303.3 79.8 8.3 365.6 757.0 England 200.8 54.6 7.2 286.9 549.4 Wales 34.9 0.8 0.4 22.7 68.7 Scotland 28.5 8.0 0.8 35.9 73.2 Northern Ireland 39.1 6.5 not collected 20.2 65.7 1968 United Kingdom — — — 450.1 — England — — — 344.2 — Wales — — — 23.1 — Scotland — — — 50.2 — Northern Ireland — — — 32.5 — 1958 United Kingdom — — — 730.3 — England — — — 551.3 — Wales — — — 39.3 — Scotland — — — 88.4 — Northern Ireland — — — 51.2 — Source: June census.
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Table 2 Numbers engaged on agricultural holdings in England by region 1978 and 1987 Thousands Region Farmers, partners and directors (doing farm work) Spouses of farmers, partners and directors (doing farm work) Salaried managers All workers Total labour force 1987 North 14.3 3.9 0.2 11.3 29.7 Yorkshire and Humberside 20.9 4.9 0.6 23.9 50.4 East Midlands 20.2 4.7 0.8 27.5 53.2 East Anglia 15.1 3.7 0.9 30.1 49.7 South East 29.1 7.6 2.4 59.7 98.7 South West 39.6 11.7 1.1 39.2 91.6 West Midlands 22.3 4.1 0.6 25.4 54.4 North West 14.4 4.1 0.3 14.5 33.3 Scotland and Northern Ireland; what are the corresponding figures for 1978, 1968, and 1958; and in each case what is the percentage difference compared with the present situation.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 27 May 1989]: Numbers of persons engaged in agriculture in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole at June 1987 are shown in the following table (1) along with corresponding figures for the years 1958, 1968 and 1978 as far as these are available. No figures are available for employment related to agriculture. Table 2 shows the numbers engaged in agriculture in the regions of England in 1978 and 1987. This table excludes minor holdings which do not make an annual census return. Comparable regional figures are not available for 1958 or 1968 because of change in definition. The final table shows the percentage reductions between each of the previous dates and 1987 in the number of farm workers, the only category for which data are available for all years.
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Region Farmers, partners and directors (doing farm work) Spouses of farmers, partners and directors (doing farm work) Salaried managers All workers Total labour force 1978 North 15.3 4.0 0.3 13.9 33.5 Yorkshire and Humberside 22.5 5.1 0.6 27.9 56.0 East Midlands 22.7 5.3 0.8 34.4 63.3 East Anglia 17.7 4.1 1.0 40.0 62.8 South East 32.2 7.7 2.5 72.7 115.2 South West 43.3 11.5 1.0 46.0 101.9 West Midlands 24.3 6.0 0.7 30.1 61.1 North West 16.0 4.3 0.3 16.5 37.1 source: June census.
Table 3 All workers—Percentage reduction 1958 to 1987 1968 to 1987 1978 to 1987 per cent. per cent. per cent. United Kingdom 59.3 33.9 18.7 England 57.2 31.4 17.8 Wales 49.9 14.7 13.2 Scotland 74.0 54.2 35.9 Northern Ireland 63.7 42.8 7.9 Regions North n/a n/a 18.7 Yorkshire and Humberside n/a n/a 14.3 East Midlands n/a n/a 20.0 East Anglia n/a n/a 24.7 South East n/a n/a 17.9 South West n/a n/a 14.8 West Midlands n/a n/a 15.6 North West n/a n/a 12.1 n/a = Not available.