HC Deb 16 February 1994 vol 237 cc873-5W
Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the(a) projected and (b) actual members of farmers who received hill livestock compensatory allowances for (i) 1989–90, (ii) 1990–91, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94 and (v) 1994–95.

Sir Hector Monro

The numbers of farmers who received hill livestock compensatory allowances under the schemes from 1989 to 1993 were:

Scheme year Number
1989 18,206
1990 18,137
1991 17,904
1992 17,903
1993 17,382

Projections of the numbers of farmers are made according to the previous year's scheme.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of farm incomes which are used to calculate the level of hill livestock compensatory allowances; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Hector Monro

The latest farm income estimates used in considering the level of hill livestock compensatory allowances were lodged in the House of Commons Library on 30 November 1993.

These estimates showed that incomes on livestock farms in the less favoured areas were expected to increase substantially in 1993–94. Subsequent estimates published on 31 January 1994 also show a similar level of increase overall despite the reduction in rates for hill livestock compensatory allowances.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) percentage and (b) number of hill livestock compensatory allowance claimants are estimated to have volunteered information to the colleges and universities responsible for collating information on which the calculations of farm incomes are based; and what (i) percentage and (ii) number of these claimants were from the severely disadvantaged areas for (1) 1989–90, (2) 1990–91, (3) 1991–92, (4) 1992–93, (5) 1993–94 and (6) 1994–95.

Sir Hector Monro

The information requested is set out in the table. It is not possible to split the farm accounts sample between severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged areas.

Year Total number of claimants Number of claimants supplying incomes data Percentage of total supplying incomes data
Per cent.
1989 18,206 255 1.4
1990 18,137 294 1.6
1991 17,904 316 1.8
1992 17,903 318 1.8
1993 17,382 323 1.9
(1) Incomes data is supplied only for full-time businesses while the total number of claimants will include many small units.
(2) The business supplying incomes data can comprise more than one unit.

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