§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farming businesses have(a) closed and (b) gone bankrupt during each of the past five years. [110529]
§ Ms QuinThere are no statistics on farm business closures. The data requested on bankruptcies are set out in the table.
Number of bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sector: England and Wales 1994–99 Date Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals Company 1 insolvencies Total 1994 231 166 397 1995 218 99 317 1996 168 89 257 1997 155 51 206 1998 157 65 222 1999 2149 252 2201 1 Including partnerships 2 Not including data for the fourth quarter Source:
Department of Trade and Industry