§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average net annual income of farm owners in the United Kingdom in real and cash terms in each year since 1983.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 23 March 1994]: Information is not available on the total income of farm owners. However, in the farm business survey conducted in each country of the United Kingdom, data on incomes of farm businesses are collected from a sample of 3,900 farms which are classified as full-time holdings. Results are not readily available for the United Kingdom as a whole, but the table provides information on occupier's net income for wholly owner-occupied farms in each of our four home countries. Year-to-year comparisons can best be made by reference to the indices shown in the tables in both current prices and real terms. These are based on constant samples of farms between consecutive years. The method of farm classification has been changed and results are available only on the new classification from 1986–87 onwards.
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Year2 England Wales Indices4 Indices4 £'000 per farm Current prices Real terms5 £'000 Per farm Current prices Real terms5 1990–91 12.9 93 92 7.4 81 79 1991–92 14.4 102 95 11.4 107 100 1992–93 19.1 121 110 14.6 146 132 Scotland3 Northern Ireland 1986–87 7.2 59 75 3.1 65 81 1987–88 11.6 95 117 9.1 192 231 1988–89 12.3 98 113 9.2 188 215 1989–90 13.0 108 116 7.2 149 158 1990–91 14.0 108 106 3.0 64 62 1991–92 10.1 84 78 4.9 87 80 1992–93 16.7 146 131 9.1 165 147 1 Occupier's net income represents the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and investment in the farm business. 2 Accounting years end on average in February. 3 Includes holdings which are both wholly and mainly owner-occupied. 4 Average of 1989–90—1991–92 = 100. 5 Deflated by the Retail Price Index.