§ 79. Mr. W. NICHOLSONasked the Food Controller whether an agricultural costings committee has been set up by the Board of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food to report on all questions as to the cost of production of agricultural produce which may be required by the Ministry of Food, the Wages Board, and the Board of Agriculture; and whether he can state the number of practical farmers placed on this committee, and how many of the committee have ever had to gain their living by producing the agricultural crops the cost of which they have to report on?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Of the six members of the Committee representing the Ministry of Food, Lord Bledisloe, Mr. Anker Simmons, Mr. C. B. 589 Fisher, and Mr. McDougall, are all practical agriculturists with an exceptionally wide knowledge of the cost of production. Of the two members representing the Board of Agriculture, the Hon. E. G. Strutt is well known as a practical agriculturist of very wide experience. Of the remaining ten members of the Committee, Professor Orwin has made a special study of agricultural costing for many years; Mr. E. W. Langford is a farmer of broad experience in Herefordshire; Mr. A. Batchelor is a typical representative of Scottish farmers; while Sir Henry Row, Sir Robert Grieg, and Mr. J. R. Campbell are recognised as practical and highly informed agricultural representatives.
§ Major E. WOODCan the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, namely, how many of the Committee have had to earn their living out of the crops on which they have to report?