§ 44. Mr. TAYLORasked the Prime Minister when the conference on the extension of the franchise to women on the same terms as men is likely to take place?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday in reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Shoreditch.
§ The following new Departments or Branches have been created in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries since 1914:—
| Department or Branch. | Duties. | Approximate cost during current financial year (see footnote). |
| £ | ||
| Welsh Department | Administration of the principal branches of the Ministry's work in Wales and Monmouthshire, including those relating to small holdings and allotments, County Agricultural Committees, Education, Improvement of Live Stock, Horticulture and Small Live Stock. Advises the Ministry in other matters affecting Wales and Monmouthshire. | 17,100 |
| Research Advisory and Machinery Branch | Administration of grants to Agricultural, Horticultural and Veterinary Research Institutes and grants in respect of advisory work at Agricultural Colleges and University Departments of Agriculture in plant pathology, agricultural chemistry, veterinary science, agricultural economics and dairy bacteriology. Supervision of appointment, salaries and conditions of employment of research and advisory officers, and programme of research work. Administration of scheme for the award of post graduate scholarships for intending agricultural organisers, teachers and research workers. | 5,622 |
| Arrangement and co-ordination of experiments and demonstrations on general agricultural questions, and supply of technical advice to inquirers, who cannot be answered through the medium of advisory officers. Conducts tests of agricultural machinery and advises on agricultural machinery and engineering. Administration of schemes for the correlation of meteorological conditions with crop growth and for the cultivation of flax. Business in connection with hop control. | ||
| Building and Estates Management Branch. | Management of properties (farm settlements) acquired in England for the settlement of ex-service men on the land, under the Small Holdings (Colonies) Acts, 1916 and 1918, and the Sailors and Soldiers (Gifts for Land Settlement) Act, 1916. | 14,529 |
| Examination of plans, tenders and contracts of County Councils for building work on small holdings provided under the Small Holdings and Allotments is Acts, 1908–19; making of surveys, preparation of plans and carrying out of building work for the Ministry's Farm Settlements. Administration of the Improvement of Land, etc., Acts, and of the Settled Land Acts. |