To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of field archaeologists made redundant in 2008; and what assessment he has made of the effects of such redundancies on the implementation of planning guidance. (243552)

Neither the Department for Culture, Media and Sport nor English Heritage collates data on the employment of field archaeologists. However, the Institute for Archaeologists, a professional institute for the study and care of the historic environment, is collating data on redundancies in 2008 and will make the information available in the future. The impact of any redundancies may include the potential loss of skills from the sector and pressure on standards in implementing planning guidance.