§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is(a) the average indebtedness of hill farmers and (b) the resultant loan servicing charges for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 7 December 1994]: The information requested for livestock farmers in the Scottish less favoured areas is set out in the following table.
Total liabilities At start of year £ At end of year £ Interest paid £ 1988–89 26,983 38,967 2,881 1989–90 30,187 31,172 3,782 1990–91 31,528 33,075 4,149 1991–92 33,169 32,805 4,215 1992–93 38,060 36,343 3,594 Source:
Scottish Farm Accounts Scheme.
The sample of farms changes slightly from year to year and caution is therefore needed when comparing absolute levels between one year and the next but the average 352W level of indebtedness has remained broadly constant over recent years.