HC Deb 01 November 1993 vol 231 cc42-4W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members' names of the departmental review committee reviewing maternity services in Northern Ireland; when it was set up; how often it has met; when it will report; and what opportunity has been given for submissions to the departmental review committee.

Mr. Ancram

[holding answer 29 October 1993]: The Department of Health and Social Services announced the establishment of the maternity unit study group on 28 October 1993. The group will meet for the first time on 25 November and is expected to report by the end of March 1994. The group will consider what evidence and submissions it should invite from interested organisations and individuals in due course. The members of the group are:

  • Mrs. Brenda McLaughlin, Chairman
  • Mr. Derek Baker
  • Dr. Henrietta Campbell
  • Mrs. Fionnuala Cook
  • Miss Eileen MacBrinn
  • Dr. Denis Martin
  • Miss Maeve McConville
  • Dr. Agnes McKnight
  • Mr. Douglas Smyth
  • Mrs. Gladys Smyth
  • Miss Mary Uprichard
  • Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers in the United Kingdom were in receipt of hill livestock compensatory allowances in the severely disadvantaged areas according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978.

Mr. Ancram

[holding answer 29 October 1993]: The number of farmers in severely disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland who were paid hill livestock compensatory allowances is as follows:

Year Number of farmers
1978 12,882
1979 12,596
1980 12,410
1981 12,090
1982 11,977
1983 11,959
1984 11,861
1985 12,255
1986 12,268
1987 12,160
1988 12,100
1989 12,205
1990 12,309
1991 12,333
1992 12,326
1993 112,200
1 Provisional.

Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the net farm income for mainly sheep and sheep and cattle farms in severely disadvantaged areas, in both nominal and real terms for each year since 1978.

Mr. Ancram

[holding answer 29 October 1993]: Information for mainly sheep farms is not available. Estimated income figures for cattle and sheep farms in the severely disadvantaged areas are given in the tables. The basis of farm typology was changed in 1992–93 and the data are therefore, presented in two tables, one covering the period 1978–79 to 1991–92 (old classification) and the other the period 1986–87 to 1992–93 (new classification).

Average net farm income on cattle and sheep farms in the Severely Disadavantaged Area in Northern Ireland (old classification)1
£'000 per farm Indices2
Current prices 1991–92 prices3 Current prices Real terms3
1978–794 4.6 12.2 152 374
1979–804 1.1 2.5 35 75
1980–814 1.6 3.2 30 55
1981–824 5.3 9.4 108 178
1982–834 4.9 8.0 96 147
1983–84 4.4 6.9 104 153
1984–85 5.9 8.8 127 177
1985–86 2.3 3.2 52 69
1986–87 2.1 2.9 58 74
1987–88 8.1 10.6 190 232
1988–89 6.2 7.7 159 186
1989–90 3.9 4.5 96 104
1990–91 42 4.4 98 97
1991–92 4.4 4.4 106 99

Average net farm income on cattle and sheep farms in the Severely Disadavantaged Area in Northern Ireland (old classification)1
£'000 per farm Indices2
Current prices 1991–92 prices3 Current prices Real terms3
1986–87 3.7 5.1 74 94
1987–88 8.9 11.7 160 195
1988–89 7.3 9.1 143 167
1989–90 5.0 5.8 96 104
1990–91 4.7 4.9 88 87
1991–92 4.6 4.6 117 110
1992–935 6.4 6.2 164 149

1 Accounting years ending on average in February.
2 1989–90—1991–92 = 100.
3 This information has been derived by deflating the current price estimates by the Retail Price Index.
4 The estimates for these years are not strictly comparable with those for later years.
5 Provisional.

Dr. Strang

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

Mr. Ancram

[holding answer 29 October 1993]: In Northern Ireland 12,326 producers in the severely disadvantaged area and 6,145 producers in the disadvantaged area were entitled to hill livestock compensatory allowances under the 1992 scheme.