§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in the organic farming and foods sector in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and how many are forecast to be employed in 1999–2000. [92094]
§ Mr. MorleyI have been asked to reply.
The information is not available in the form requested. However, our records show that in 1997–98, 292 farmers in the UK had land registered as organic or in conversion to organic farming. The equivalent figures for 1998–99 and to date for 1999–2000 are 733 and 1,165.