HC Deb 12 December 2002 vol 396 cc436-9W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) farms and (b) farmers were in business in each region in each year since 1990. [85351]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 5 December 2002]The number of(a) holdings and (b) farmers by region in England 1990, 1995–2001. Data for 1991–94 is currently not available by Government office region.

Government office region 1990 1995 1996 1997
East Midlands region
Total holdings 16,624 16,256 16,052 15,799
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 24,032 23,406 23,262 23,058
West Midlands region
Total holdings 19,233 18,761 18,847 18,871
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 27,336 26,751 26,971 26,912
East of England region
Total holdings 18,651 17,716 17,574 17,326
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 26,353 24,883 24,676 24,254
Greater London
Total holdings 478 431 418 400
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 658 622 593 580
South-east region
Total holdings 19,502 18,464 18,286 18,161
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 25,717 24,395 24,214 24,050
South-west region
Total holdings 35,537 35,419 35,634 35,603
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 50,013 49,891 50,149 49,885

Government office region 1998 1999 2000 2001
England
Total holdings 150,653 146,109 145,638 144,777
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 214,392 208,050 207,807 206,421
North-east region
Total holdings 5,144 5,280 5,674 6,073
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 7,829 7,779 8,105 8,598
North-west region, inc. Merseyside
Total holdings 17,374 17,609 20,492 21,048
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 26,059 25,546 27,538 28,682
Yorkshire and Humberside region
Total holdings 15,996 16,204 18,530 19,661
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 23,774 23,289 25,695 27,280
East Midlands region
Total holdings 15,760 15,715 17,754 19,095
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 22,631 21,925 23,839 25,433
West Midlands region
Total holdings 18,903 19,161 22,281 23,247
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 26,796 26,312 29,524 31,076
East of England region
Total holdings 17,224 17,064 19,357 21,054
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 23,844 22,934 25,870 27,325
Greater London
Total holdings 399 402 424 434
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 538 491 520 543
South-east region
Total holdings 18,645 18,921 20,937 22,461
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 23,683 23,376 25,642 27,673
South-west region
Total holdings 35,648 36,864 42,406 44,861
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 49,383 48,651 54,198 57,218
England
Total holdings 145,093 147,220 167,855 177,934
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses 204,537 200,303 220,931 233,828

Notes:

Figures for 2000 and 2001 include minor holdings.

Spouses are included only if working on the holdings.

Between 2000 and 2001 a register improvement exercise took place which resulted in the addition of holdings not previously included in the Census. An increase in the number of holdings was also seen after the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak.

Source:

June Agricultural and Horticultural Census.

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