§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of family farms in the United Kingdom during 1960, 1970 and 1980, together with his estimate for 1990 and 2000.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 16 February 1989]: Statistics on family farms are not collected as there is no statistical definition of such farms. However, the following information from a special European Community sample survey of farm work is relevant. Forecasts for future members are not made.
United Kingdom 1985 Farm holdings1 258.5 thousand Farmed by a person2 240.5 thousand As a percentage of holdings 93 per cent. Estimated proportion of holdings with one or more family workers in addition to the farmer 62 per cent. 1 These are main holdings in the annual census of agriculture. They exclude minor holdings below a defined threshold of size. 2 ie Not farmed by a firm or institution.