To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society. [81200]

Statistical work is undertaken by a range of specialisms including Economists. Within this Department there are 2 Senior Civil Servants, 2 Grade 6s, 11 Grade 7s and 6 Assistant Statisticians employed as "professional" Statisticians, all of whom have been recruited via CSSB. In addition our Department employs 2 Statistical Officers.Two officers have applied for and been granted chartered statistician status.