HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc53-5W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many producers are entitled to hill livestock compensatory allowances in Wales; and what proportion of those are located in(a) severely disadvantaged and (b) disadvantaged areas.

(a) All farms (b) All farms which presently receive hill livestock compensatory allowance payments
All dairy and livestock farms income Seriously disadvantaged area income Disadvantaged areas income Less favoured area income
Current prices Real terms1 Current prices Real terms1 Current prices Real terms1 Current prices Real terms1
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
1985–86 7,914 11,145 7,913 11,145 5,938 8,363 7,616 10,727
1986–87 8,508 11,655 9,604 13,156 3,129 4,286 7,906 10,830
1987–88 11,243 14,793 10,703 14,083 5,985 7,875 9,453 12,438
1988–89 15,767 19,709 15,721 19,651 10,353 12,941 14,250 17,813
1989–90 12,277 14,111 10,022 11,520 5,370 6,172 8,805 10,121
1990–91 10,500 11,053 9,932 10,455 1,592 1,676 7,561 7,959
1991–92 13,968 13,968 15,340 15,340 4,386 4,386 12,254 12,254
1 Deflated by the RPI 1991–92 = 100.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the number and proportion of farms, together with farms which presently receive hill livestock compensatory allowance payments in total and broken down by(a) disadvantaged areas, (b) severely disadvantaged areas and (c) less favoured areas.

Mr. David Hunt

In 1991 there were 6,594 main agricultural holdings in Wales with land in the disadvantaged areas but not in the severely disadvantaged areas, and a further 13,901 holdings with land in the severely disadvantaged areas making a total of 20,495 main holdings with land in the less favoured areas. These figures represent 22 per cent. 47 per cent. and 69 per cent. of all main holdings in Wales respectively.

Mr. David Hunt

About 15,000 claimants currently receive hill livestock compensatory allowances in Wales. Of these some 11,000 (73 per cent.) are located in the severely disadvantaged areas and 4,000 (27 per cent.) in the disadvantaged areas.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the average incomes of(a) all farms and (b) farms which presently receive hill livestock compensatory allowance payments in (a) disadvantaged areas, (b) severely disadvantaged areas and (c) less-favoured areas in each year since 1979.

Mr. David Hunt

Separate incomes data is only available in this form since 1985–86 from when the information requested is given in the table:

Four thousand claimants currently receive hill livestock compensatory allowances in the disadvantaged areas only and a further 11,000 in the severely disadvantaged areas making a total of 15,000 claimants in the less favoured areas. These figures represent 13 per cent. 37 per cent. and 50 per cent. of all main holdings in Wales respectively.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hill livestock compensatory allowance rates in cash terms and real terms in each year since 1982.

Mr. David Hunt

The information requested is at table 17 of the statistical tables prepared in connection with last year's autumn review of hill livestock compensatory allowances. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what hectarage of land in Wales is in(a) less-favoured areas, (b) severely disadvantaged areas and (c) disadvantaged areas; what proportion of land in Wales each figure represents; and how many farmers are involved.

Mr. David Hunt

There are estimated to be 1,644,000 hectares of land in Wales in the less favoured areas, of which 1,158,000 hectares are in the severely disadvantaged areas and 486,000 hectares in the disadvantaged areas. These figures represent 79 per cent., 56 per cent. and 23 per cent. of the total land area of Wales respectively. In 1991 there were 20,495 main agricultural holdings in Wales with land in the less favoured areas, of which 13,901 holdings had land in the severely disadvantaged areas and 10,357 holdings had land in the disadvantaged areas.

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