§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board proposes to group all the counties in England and Wales into twelve provinces for the purposes of higher agricultural education and research; and whether every one of such provinces will be equipped with one collegiate centre and one or more farm institutes, from which will radiate the peripatetic instruction now carried on by county councils as well as expert advice to all local farmers requiring it?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)I am carefully considering by what means the various agencies, actual and prospective, for the provision of agricultural education and research and of technical advice in agriculture may most effectively be brought into co-operation. I think it will probably make both for efficiency and for economy if county councils and agricultural colleges will combine for the purpose of joint action in respect of many of their agricultural activities. I am not yet, however, prepared to make a definite statement on the subject, as to which, I shall hope, before taking any decision to learn the opinions of county councils and agricultural colleges.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. Gentleman also take the opinion of the 8 Rural Educational Conference which is at present considering this matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANCertainly, Sir.