HC Deb 01 March 1993 vol 220 cc55-7W
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the average gross weekly earnings of full-time workers in each Welsh county in each year since 1985 expressed as a percentage of the United Kingdom average gross weekly earnings of full-time workers.

Mr. David Hunt

Comparisons with United Kingdom averages are not readily available. The table gives the figures as a percentage of the Great Britain average.

Number of Farms Average Hectarage
1988–89 128 152
1989–90 129 151
1990–91 138 154
1991–92 112 138

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many specialist sheep farms in severely disadvantaged areas in Wales have taken part in the farm business survey in each year since 1979; and what was their average hectarage.

Mr. David Hunt

The number of sheep farms in the severely disadvantaged areas in Wales which have been included in the farm business survey since 1979 and the average hectarage per farm are as follows:

Number of holdings Average hectarage
1979–80 25 339
1980–81 26 315
1981–82 32 262
1982–83 30 277
1983–84 51 244
1984–85 47 263
1985–86 44 261
1986–87 50 277
1987–88 53 268
1988–89 63 264
1989–90 63 254
1990–91 60 307
1991–92 72 227

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many livestock farms in disadvantaged areas in Wales have taken part in the farm business survey in each year since 1979; and what was their average hectarage.

Mr. David Hunt

The number of livestock farms in the disadvantaged areas in Wales which have been included in the farm business survey since 1985–86—the first year for which FBS data are available—and the average hectarage per farm are as follows:

Number of Farms Hectarage Average
1985–86 35 82
1986–87 47 76
1987–88 46 75
1988–89 43 78
1989–90 45 67
1990–91 50 68
1991–92 47 76