§ Hugh RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK nationals were employed in(a) horticulture and (b) fruit farming in each year since 1997. [143920]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 15 December 2003: The following figures show the total labour force on holdings in England where horticulture is the predominant activity (this includes specialist horticulture, specialist glass and specialist fruit). The June Agricultural Census does not record nationality, only number of people working on holdings.
Total labour force (a) Total labour force on horticulture holdings (excludes specialist fruit) (b) Total labour force on specialist fruit holdings 1997 35,237 8,084 1998 36,826 8,528 1999 38,262 7,740 2000 35,463 8,639 2001 35,993 9,120 2002 34,605 8,988 Notes:
1. Figures for the other UK countries fall under the jurisdiction of the devolved authorities.
2. Figures prior to 2000 show main holdings only. From 2000 onwards all holdings are included.
3. Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.
Source:
June Agricultural Census