HC Deb 09 April 2003 vol 403 cc272-3W
Hugh Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what gains and losses in (a) actual and (b) percentage terms there have been in the size of the National Orchard in 2002. [108067]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 8 April 2003]The area of the National Orchard fell by 2.4 thousand hectares (11 per cent.) between 2001 and 2002. The table as follows shows the results of the Orchard Fruit Surveys 1997–2002.

Orchard Fruit Survey England and Wales (excluding minor

holdings)
Year Tree area (hectares) Percentage change
1997 23,523 —
1998 21,981 -6.6
1999 21,483 -2.3
2000 20,823 -3.1
20011 121,104 11.4
2002 18,739 -11.2
1 2001 figures revised when 2002 results were published