§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis the calculations of average subsidies per hill sheep farm in England were made in her press statement of 30 November and of her answers of 2 February,Official Report, column 737, which indicated an average subsidy receipt for English less-favoured area farms; and if she will account for the difference.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe average quoted in the press statement of 30 November related to the estimated average direct subsidy which would be paid to full-time farms classified as severely disadvantaged area specialist sheep farms in England in 1993–94. This is consistent with the tables which were prepared for the autumn review and copies of which were placed in the Library of the House.
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LFA livestock farms in England: holdings and net farm income by ESU size group ESU size group (a) Farms partly or wholly in the LFA with any beef cattle and/or sheep (b) Farms classified as cattle and sheep (LFA) farms (c) Number (June J 992) Proportion Netfarm income (1992–93) £000 Number (June 1992) Proportion Netfarm income (1992–93) £000 1 2 3 4 5 6 <8 5,204 29 — 4,590 39 — 8 < 16 2,359 13 — 1,909 16 3.1 16 < 28 2,476 14 — 1,752 15 9.4 28 < 40 2,041 11 — 1,171 10 12.0 40 < 60 2,508 14 — 1,184 10 19.8 60 < 100 2,383 13 — 910 8 24.1 100 < 200 992 5 — 298 3 — 200 + and over 127 1 — 28 0 — All sizes 18,090 100 — 11,842 100 13.7 Average over all sizes 36 — — 24 — — Average over 8 ESU 49 — — 37 — — The figures contained in the written replies relate to the total number of farms in England with at least 50 per cent. of their land in the less-favoured areas classified as LFA cattle and sheep farms and an estimate of the total direct livestock subsidy payments on beef and sheep in the less-favoured areas in 1994. These payments will of course include those to the large number of very small farms and to farms not classified as SDA specialist sheep.