HC Deb 02 November 1998 vol 318 cc341-2W
Mr. Maclean

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides have been recorded amongst farmers and other agricultural employees in each of the last 10 years. [57663]

Ms Hewitt

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Maclean, dated 2 November 1998: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on suicides amongst farmers and other agricultural employees. The information requested is shown in the table below.

Suicides amongst farmers and other agricultural employees in England and Wales, 1988–1997
Year of occurrence Farmers, horticulturists, farm managers Other agricultural employees
1988 60 36
1989 45 32
1990 49 33
1991 54 31
1992 47 32
1993 50 35
1994 44 29
1995 41 17
1996 36 35
1997 42 25
The data relate to persons aged between 16 and 74 at the time of their death. Occupation is not coded for deaths to those aged 75 and over.