§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will say what proportion of the total income of the Board available for agricultural purposes is expended annually upon administration expenses and the salaries of officials and inspectors?
§ Mr. LEWISPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will allow me to circulate the answer with the Votes, as it contains a large number of figures.—[See Written Answers this date.]
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTThat is not an answer to my question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has had his answer.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state what is the present total income of the Board available for all the purposes of the Board other than fisheries and the maintenance of Kew Gardens; and how such income compares with the income available for the like purposes in 1900 and 1905?
§ Mr. LEWISI would ask the hon. Member to allow me to circulate the answer with the Votes. I think he will see that it would be undesirable to occupy the time of the House in reading the long answer which his question requires.—[See Written Answers this date.]
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTI must appeal to you, Mr. Speaker, whether I cannot have any further answer. The question is addressed to the President of the Board of Agriculture, who, as a rule, is not present at question time.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot compel him to be present.
§ Mr. LEWISMay I be allowed to say that my right hon. Friend is at present engaged in inspecting small holdings, a work which, I am sure, the Whole House 1018 will approve. It would be impossible for him to be here every day. Under these circumstances, I hope the House will accept the answers which have been given to the questions on the Paper.