Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have become gamekeepers in each of the last three years; and what the age group and gender is of all registered gamekeepers.

Defra does not hold information on employment figures for gamekeepers. There is no requirement for gamekeepers or employers of gamekeepers to report this information to Defra.

It is for landowners and gamekeeping organisations to encourage more people to become gamekeepers. However, Defra invests in a range of rural skills and jobs through initiatives under the Rural Development Programme for England.