§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms there were in England in each reporting period from 1979–80 to 2002; and if she will make a statement. [66278]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2002]: The number of main holdings included in the overall Agricultural and Horticultural Census results (following the periodic reclassification between main and minor holdings) were:
642W
Number of Holdings Year Number 1980 155,688 1985 153,766 1990 150,652 1995 146,112 2000 146,347 2001 159,417 Notes:
1. Holdings in the census have been classified as main and minor. Main holdings are included for selection in the annual census (since 1995 this has been on a sample basis). Minor holdings are only surveyed once every five years following which a review of the classification between main and minor takes place. New holdings are counted as main holdings until the next reclassification exercise.
2. Additional holdings from a significant register updating exercise were identified in 2000 and first included in 2001.
3. The figures for June 2002 Census are still being processed. From this year the distinction between main and minor is being dropped.
4. Holdings may not relate to individual farms. A single business may consist of several holdings.
Source:
June Agricultural and Horticultural Census