§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of workers engaged in agriculture in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1985 and 1990(a) in total and (b) whole time.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
1980 1985 1990 Total agricultural labour force 63,500 60,600 58,400 Of whom whole time on farms 35,500 31,500 27,800
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many agricultural holdings there were in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
Year Agricultural holdings 1980 35,256 1985 32,426 1990 29,850
Current prices £ millions Constant prices £ millions (1985 Base) 1979 1980 1985 1990 1979 1980 1985 1990 Plant and Machinery 40.94 27.59 45.22 43.46 56.24 34.19 45.22 33.69 Vehicles 8.68 5.39 9.38 15.50 13.56 7.41 9.38 10.64 Buildings and Works 50.93 76.92 110.40 82.38 72.45 83.34 110.40 58.43
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) ewes and shearlings, (b) dairy cows and (c) breeding sows and gilts there were in Northern Ireland (i) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (ii) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
Ewes Dairy cows Sows and gilts ('000) ('000) ('000) 1979–811 542 268 71 1986 819 292 62 1987 886 289 60 1988 980 279 62 1989 1,085 277 58 1990 1,168 278 59 1Average.
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Ireland how many tractors were acquired by the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland(a) in total and (b) of 40 kW and over, in 1979, 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of agricultural tractors first registered in Northern Ireland in 1979, 1985 and 1990 were as follows:
292W
Number 1979 1,882 1985 2,257 1990 1,312
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) whole-time and (b) part-time farmers there were in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
1980 1985 1990 Farmers: —whole time 27,600 25,300 22,700 —part time 10,900 10,700 11,900 —total 38,500 36,100 34,600
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the level of investment by the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland in(a) plant and machinery, (b) vehicles, (c) buildings and (d) works in 1979, 1980, 1985, and the latest year for which figures are available (i) in cash terms and (ii) at fixed prices.
§ Mr. HanleyInvestment by the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland in plant and machinery, vehicles and buildings and works in 1979, 1980, 1985, and 1990 is given in the table (i) in current prices and (ii) in constant (1985) prices. Separate figures for investment in buildings and works are not available.
The information is not available by the tractor's kilowatt power rating
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hectares of(a) cereals and (b) potatoes were grown in Northern Ireland (a) in each of the five years for 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
Cereals Potatoes ('000 ha) ('000 ha) 1979–811 57.3 14.0 1986 53.9 11.8 1987 52.3 12.4 1988 50.1 12.0 1989 47.9 10.3 1990 45.3 10.8 1Average.