To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of people employed in (a) farm machinery and (b) agricultural feed businesses; and if he will make a statement. (84614)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl dated 12 July 2006:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about employment in farm machinery and agriculture feed business. I am replying in her absence. (84614)

It is estimated from the 2004 annual business inquiry that in Great Britain there were8,000 employee jobs in the manufacture of agricultural machinery and 10,000 in the manufacture of feeds for farm animals.

As with any sample survey these estimates are subject to a margin of uncertainty.