HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 cc99-101W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Economic and Social Research Council data archive of the rural areas database has been prevented by his Department from making figures from the agricultural census available for the purpose of research and analysis.

Mr. Ryder

Since 1985, agricultural census data for each year since 1975 have been deposited for research in a scholarly context with the rural areas database of the Economic and Social Research Council's data archive. These data have been regularly used for research and analysis. A new contract will shortly be signed with the Economic and Social Research Council which will allow non-academic use of these data.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will provide a breakdown according to the latest available annual agricultural census results of farm holdings in England and Wales separately, and both together, and numbers of workers according to size, measured in BSU, and main farm type size groups, to show separately those with whole-time hired male workers, whole-time hired workers, whole-time family workers, male whole-time family workers, total regular hired workers, total regular family workers, whole-time male workers, whole-time female workers, total whole-time workers, total part-time workers, total part-time hired workers, part-time male workers, part-time hired male workers, total part-time family workers, male part-time family workers, total regular workers, salaried managers, total seasonal or casual workers, and those with no workers at all and the distribution of farm holdings and standard gross margin by BSU and main farm type size groups.

Mr. Donald Thompson

This detailed information is extensive and can be prepared in the requested form only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will provide a detailed outline of the scope of the statistical analyses carried out on the June agricultural census data each year; and what are the individual titles to each of the tables.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Results of the June agricultural census are published in statistical information notices, in "Agricultural Statistics UK", in "Agriculture in the UK", in various other publications of the Government statistical service, and in the farm structure survey publications of the European Community. Other tabular analyses are available for purchase.

Aggregates of all census items are published at national, regional, county and parish levels, and for less favoured areas. Analyses of farm holdings showing frequencies by size are published in respect of all major items. Other analyses are prepared on request. The following titles are available for direct purchase from the Ministry: Agricultural returns—England and Wales, regions and counties for all areas and separately for less favoured areas, disadvantaged land and seriously disadvantaged land. Each item, crops, grass, tenure, labour livestock, horticulture small fruit, bulbs and flowers, hardy nursery stock and glasshouse and protected crops. Distribution of holdings and crop and grass area by crops and grass size groups (county and regions). Distribution of holdings and total area by total area size groups (county and region). Number of holdings and total area by form of tenure (county and region). Frequency distribution tables showing holdings and items by item size group at national, regional and county level. Wheat, barley, oats, total cereals, total potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape. Total vegetables, total hardy nursery stock, total commercial orchards, total flowers and bulbs. Total dairy cows, beef cows, total cattle and calves, total breeding pigs, other pigs over 20 kg, total pigs, breeding ewes, total sheep and lambs, hens producing eggs for eating, breeding fowls, broilers, geese. Full-time hired workers, full time family and hired workers, regular full-time and part-time workers. Heated glasshouse area, unheated glasshouse area, total glasshouse area, heated tomatoes, unheated tomatoes, chrysanthemums.