§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) total level of borrowing of British farmers and (b) average level of borrowing per farm in the United Kingdom was in the last year for which figures are available. [137255]
§ Mr. BradshawThe information is as follows:
(a) In 2001, the liabilities of United Kingdom agriculture amounted to £9.5 billion. This figure includes: mortgages; bank loans; family loans; leasing; hire purchase; trade credit; bank overdrafts; and other liabilities.
(b) In 2001–02, the average closing value of borrowings on farm businesses in England was nearly £91,000. This estimate is based on Farm Business Survey data, which are a sample of full-time farm businesses. Farms in the sample subject to compulsory cull due to foot and mouth disease in 2001–02 have been excluded. Average borrowings for the United Kingdom are not available, but estimates for the other UK countries are available separately in the publication "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom" (http:// statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/fluk/default.asp)