§ 35. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received from the Somerset Agricultural Committee a resolution calling his attention to the fact that, while for a long time past the Ministry have urged and ultimately, by their letter of 8th June, directed the committee to reduce the architects' staff, the Ministry themselves have now advertised for three district architects for their Land Department at salaries of £400 to £500 per annum; and what is the reason for this course?
The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir A. Boscawen)I have received the resolution to which my hon. Friend refers. The Ministry's letter of the 8th June contained a number of suggestions with regard to the agricultural staff employed by the Somerset County Council, and inter alia expressed the hope that the council might find it possible to dispense almost entirely with its architectural department before March, 1922. The reason for this suggestion was that approval has already been given to three-quarters of the equipment programme of the Somerset Small Holdings Committee, and the Ministry considers that the work should be practically completed by the date mentioned. Unfortunately the provision of cottages and farm buildings in connection with the Land Settlement Scheme is not so far advanced in the majority of counties as it is in Somerset, and, in view of the desirability of settling approved ex-service men as quickly as possible, the 1970 Ministry has been obliged to fill temporarily three vacancies for district architects on its own staff to press on the work in areas where less than 50 per cent. of the programme has been approved up to the present. It will be possible, however, for substantial reductions in the Ministry's architectural staff to be made on or before 31st March next.