asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why leading gardeners at Hampton Court Palace are not classified as skilled.

The skills of gardeners at Hampton Court Palace are recognised according to the work they perform in a grading structure which was agreed in 1971 with the trade unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many gardeners, and in which grades, have left the gardens of Hampton Court Palace in the last 12 months; and how many have been replaced.

A total of 34, in the following grades, left:

Grade I	2
Grade II	6
Assistant Gardener	23
Apprentices	3

Seven of the assistant gardeners were employed only temporarily during the summer season.With the exception of one grade I gardener all the permanent staff have been replaced, though there are six grade I vacancies, five for assistant gardener and eight for other staff, out of a total establishment of 96.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the staff establishment in each grade and the number of persons currently employed in the gardens at Hampton Court Palace.

Following is the information:

STAFF EMPLOYED IN THE GARDENS AT HAMPTON COURT
	Establishment	Currently employed
Labourer (unskilled)	6	5
Lavatory attendant	6	5
Assistant gardener	20	15
Driver	4	3
Gardener II	13	13
Storemen B	1	1
Gamekeeper	1	1
Gardener I	25	19
Vinekeeper	1	1
Tree-feller and pruner	6	3
Chargehand	6	4
Foreman	3	1
Building Trade—Craftsman	3	3
Craft Auxiliary	1	1

The above figures exclude the park superintendent, assistant superintendents, the supporting office staff and the park constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment approximately how many people visited the gardens of Hampton Court Palace in each year since 1970.

As with other Royal parks, no record is kept of the number of people who visit the gardens at Hampton Court. About 650,000 people visit the State apartments annually.