HC Deb 17 July 2002 vol 389 c313W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she had made of the ability of hill farmers to diversify into other areas of business. [70371]

Alun Michael

The Government recognise that all farms have their own set of individual circumstances which influence the scope for diversification and that the same approach will not be appropriate in all

1. Number of holdings classified as farm type dairy
Government office region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
North East region 325 285 275 251 215
North West region including Merseyside 4,241 4,058 3,904 3,630 2,983
Yorkshire and Humberside region 1,654 1,532 1,484 1,358 1,306
East Midlands region 1,336 1,273 1,226 1,122 1,156
West Midlands region 2,694 2,531 2,446 2,305 2,213
East of England region 250 239 231 203 215
South East region including Greater London 972 888 864 779 805
South West region 6,535 6,207 5,883 5,478 5,213
England 18,007 17,013 16,313 15,126 14,106

2. Number of holdings with any dairy cows
Government office regions 1997 1995 1999 2000 2001
North East region 510 467 428 398 343
North West region including Merseyside 4,993 4,862 4,671 4,315 3,440
Yorkshire and Humberside region 2,340 2,248 2,129 1,983 1,814
East Midlands region 1,836 1,785 1,729 1,599 1,567
West Midlands region 3,354 3,261 3,124 2,936 2,768
East of England region 641 637 584 517 527
South East region including Greater London 1,518 1,500 1,431 1,350 1,321
South West region 7,740 7,556 7,230 6,819 6,345
England 22,932 22,316 21,326 19,917 18,125

Notes:

1. Holdings shown as of June each year, not 'opened' or 'closed'.

2. Table 1 shows holdings where dairy farming is the predominant activity.

3. Table 2 shows holdings which returned at least one dairy cow in the June Census.

4. A dairy cow is classed as any dairy cow or heifer that has calved.

5. All figures relate to main holdings only.

Source:

June Agricultural and Horticultural Census