Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Monday, 16 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 January 2006. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Farmers (Qualifications/Migration)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers are (a) aged under 30 years, (b) hold degree level qualifications, (c) have moved to the UK after being farmers in another European country and (d) have moved to the UK after being farmers in another non-European country.

Answer: The closest available information from the EC Farm Structure Survey indicates that:"(a) 3 per cent. of UK farm holders (approximately 9,000) in 2003 were aged under 35 years.""(b) 11 per cent. of UK farm holder managers (approximately 22,000) in 2000 (the latest year in which training questions were asked) had undertaken formal courses lasting two years or more."Unfortunately we hold no data on holders moving to Britain from other European or non-European countries."Notes:""1. The EC Farm Structure Survey is held across all member states of the European Union four times each decade, to assess the agricultural situation across the Community and to monitor trends in the structure of holdings.""2. The holder is defined as the (natural or legal) person in whose name the holding is operated. The holder can either own or rent the holding, be a hereditary long-term leaseholder, or a usufructuary or a trustee.""3. Holder managers are only those holders who manage the holding. Holders refers to all holders whether or not they are the manager of the holding."

Secondary information