§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) land-owning farmers and (b) tenant farmers have left the industry in each of the last 10 years. [82894]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information for farmers is not available. Figures from the agricultural census on the number of holdings by tenure in England 1991–2000 indicate the following.
Holdings wholly owned/ 50 per cent, or more owned Holdings wholly rented/ 50 per cent, or more rented 1991 112,383 38,583 1992 113,698 38,020 1993 115,956 37,466 1994 117,086 36,340 1995 111,877 34,235 1996 112,164 33,474 1997 111,594 33,183 1998 112,369 32,724 1999 115,148 32,072 2000 114,841 31,506 Notes:
1. Data refers to main holdings only.
2. It is not possible to show the number of farmers, only the number of holdings.
Some farmers may have more than one holding.
3. The figures show only the number of holdings on the census day in June each
year. They therefore do not reflect gains or losses during the year.
Source:
June Agricultural and Horticultural Census