Are the data comparable for each country over time?
A. Prior to 1998 data for England and Wales was provided by DEFRA. Farmers from both territories completed the same questionnaire. Since 1998 Welsh farmers complete a questionnaire supplied by the Welsh Assembly Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department. Farmers in Scotland complete a questionnaire as supplied by The Scottish Government. Due to each government department having responsibility for their respective questionnaire there is not complete comparability over the three territories with regard to questions asked. Similarly, due to changes in agricultural policy the content of the questionnaires within the three territories changes over time.
