8 December 2009 :
Parliamentary Question
Agriculture: Manpower
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to ensure sufficient agriculture engineers are trained to service the UK agricultural and food industry markets. [303802]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The issue of improving skills in the farming industry is best managed by the industry itself. Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the Environmental and Land based industries, which includes the agricultural sector, has the role of representing the needs of the industry to Government.
DEFRA is working with a number of industry stakeholders, including Lantra, on an industry led action plan called Skills for Farming. This action plan has recently been discussed directly with the Secretary of State and work is ongoing. The action plan will cover all skill areas in the industry, including technical skills, as well as business, environmental management and low carbon farming skills. | 