§ 80. Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYasked the Minister of Agriculture what it is estimated will be the cost of the councils and advisory committees for England and Wales for the year ending 31st March, 1923; and what will be the cost of the county agricultural committees, including money provided from the rates, for a like period?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe estimated cost of the Councils of Agriculture for England and Wales and the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the year ending 31st March, 1923, is £1,700. The estimated cost to the Ministry of County 41 Agricultural Committees for the same period is £4,000. This sum, however, includes the cost of certain winding-up services of a non-recurring nature, but does not include the cost of smallholdings administration. The latter amounted to approximately £213,000 in the financial year 1920–21. The exact cost during last financial year has not yet been agreed with all county councils, but it is safe to assume that for the year ending 31st March, 1923, there will be a substantial reduction in the above figure. I regret that I have no information as regards the expenses of County Agricultural Committees which fall to be met out of county funds, and this information could only be obtained by circularising the counties concerned.