§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the current ratio of Scottish Office Agriculture Department staff is to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Scotland. [12304]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe ratio of staff currently employed in agricultural divisions of the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department to the estimated number of farmers, partners and directors in Scotland is approximately 1:43. This figure is based on recorded permanent staffing levels at 1 January 1996 and an estimate of the number of farmers, partners and directors in Scotland from the latest available information, at June 1995.