HC Deb 25 May 1993 vol 225 cc497-8W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials are employed by his Department to administer, inspect, regulate and advise the farming and fishing industries either directly, in agencies or on special contracts(a) in 1992 and (b) at the latest available date; how many (i) farmers and (ii) fishermen there are in Scotland, full or part time; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 24 May 1993]: The total numbers of staff employed by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency at 1 April 1992 and 1 April 1993 are shown in the following table, together with the most recent figures available on the numbers of farmers and fishermen in Scotland.

Staff numbers (full-time equivalent1)
1 April 1992 Number Number 1 April 1993 Number
SOAFD 1,033.5 1,071.5
SASA 138.5 142.0
SFPA 215.5 225.5
Farmers2
Full-time 12,700
Part-time 10,200
Fishermen3
Full-time 7,181
Part-time 955
1 Figures are calculated as full-time equivalents (i.e., part-time staff are counted as half units) and include administrative, professional, technical, industrial and support grades. Casual staff are excluded.
2 Includes partners and directors as at 1992 June agricultural census.
3 SOAFD figures as at December 1992.