§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers have become bankrupt in each of the past five years. [137277]
§ Mr. BradshawData on farming bankruptcies for England and Wales are given in the table. The last whole year for which bankruptcy figures are available is 2002, figures for 2003 are for the first two quarters. 293W Between 1998 and 2002 total farming bankruptcies have been between 200 and 300; this represents less than 0.1 per cent. of farmers, partners and directors and their spouses1 in England and Wales.
Number of bankruptcies2 in the agriculture and horticultural sector England and Wales 1998–2003 Total Bankruptcies 1998 222 1999 258 2000 240 2001 273 2002 208 20033 117 1June Agricultural and Horticularal Census. Data on farmers are not separately available.
2Department of Trade and Industry. Includes bankrutpcies of self-emplpoyed individuals and company insolvncies. 3Q1 andQ2