§ 56. Mr. LLOYDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Shropshire 590 County Council lately appointed a special committee to consider agricultural administration within the county; that this committee reported that, in their opinion, there was a total of 34 officials, who were more or less employed by the Ministry of Agriculture in Shropshire, whose services have produced no benefits to the county, and that their services should be dispensed with; and will he, in the interests of economy, take steps to alter this unsatisfactory state of affairs?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I cannot accept the statement that there are 34 officials of the Ministry more or less employed in Shropshire, or that the services of those officials who have visited that country have produced no benefits, but I am taking steps in connection with the recent Treasury Circular, to see that every possible reduction is made in the outdoor as well as the indoor staff of the Department.