Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) deaths, and (2) serious injuries, in the agricultural industry from 2015 up until the last year for which records are available.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority

A response to the noble Baroness’ Parliamentary Question of 3 February is attached.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

8 February 2023

Dear Lady Kennedy,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of deaths and serious injuries in the agricultural industry from 2015 up until the last year for which records are available (HL5397).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in England and Wales. Mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration. The information on occupation is supplied by the informant when registering the death. The ONS does not hold data on serious injuries occurring in the agricultural industry.

From 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2022, 10,240 deaths of persons aged 16 to 64 working in the agricultural industry were registered in England and Wales (including non-residents). These deaths were registered with the Standard Occupational Classification minor group codes 511 and 911. These agricultural and related trades occupations are defined as those who cultivate and harvest crops, breed and rear animals, raise animals for consumption, catch and breed fish and other aquatic life, grow plants, trees, shrubs and flowers for sale, tend private and public gardens, parks, sports pitches and other recreational areas, and perform a variety of other skilled occupations related to agriculture and fishing.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond