§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farmers left the industry in the last 10 years for which records are available in(a) Cornwall and (b) Devon. [140714]
§ Mr. BradshawThe figures show the number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses on holdings in Cornwall and Devon where the predominant activity is dairy. These figures show the net change in the labour force over the last 10 years. Data for the total number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding) combined are collected annually from the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census as a total. Figures are not available for each item.
Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Plymouth Torbay Devon CC 1993 2,469 1— 10 4,188 1994 2,720 13 11 4,689 1995 2,566 11 11 4,536 1996 2,467 11 11 4,391 1997 2,319 12 10 4,203 1998 2,282 10 1— 4,231 1999 2,130 8 9 4,009 2000 2,073 1— 1— 3,813 2001 2,073 1— 1— 3,426 2002 2,007 1— 1— 3,633 Notes:
(a) 1denotes that the data have been treated to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual holdings.
(b) Figures for 1998 and 1999 show main holdings only, from 2000 onwards minor holdings are also included.
221W(c) Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results
Source:
June Agricultural Census
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with farming industry representatives about farmgate prices for milk. [140812]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 1 December 2003]The Secretary of State has had no formal meetings with representatives of the farming industry to discuss farmgate milk prices. However, Ministers frequently meet with representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues. Matters affecting the whole dairy sector are regularly discussed at the Dairy Supply Chain Forum chaired by my noble Friend Lord Whitty.
§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms there were in 1997 in West Derbyshire; how many of them have closed since; and how many remain. [141458]
§ Mr. BradshawConstituency level data are available from 1998 onwards. The figures below show the number of holdings in West Derbyshire where dairy is the predominant activity. They reflect the position in the June of each year and therefore represent the net change.
Year Dairy Holdings 1998 416 2002 354 Notes
Figures for 1998 show main holdings only, in 2002 minor holdings are also included.
Source:
June Agricultural Census
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many(a) farmers and (b) farmers' spouses were engaged in dairy farming in (i) Cornwall and (ii) Devon in each of the last five years; [140778]
(2) how many (a) partners and (b) directors were engaged in dairy farming in (i) Cornwall and (ii) Devon in each of the last five years. [141567]
§ Mr. BradshawThe following figures show the number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses on holdings in Cornwall and Devon where the predominant activity is dairy. Data for the total number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding) combined are collected annually from the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census as a total. Figures are not available for each item.
222W
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Plymouth Torbay Devon CC 1998 2,282 10 1— 4,231 1999 2,130 8 9 4,009 2000 2,073 1— 1— 3,813 2001 2,073 1— 1— 3,426 2002 2,007 1— 1— 3,633 1 Denotes that the data have been treated to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual holdings. Notes:
Figures for 1998 and 1999 show main holdings only, from 2000 onwards minor holdings are also included.
Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.
Source:
June Agricultural Census