HC Deb 24 March 1926 vol 193 cc1205-6
32. Mr. HAYDN JONES

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total sum paid by the Ministry in salaries and expenses during the last financial year to clerks of county councils of England and Wales acting as clerks of agricultural and small holdings committees, land agents, d rectors of agriculture, accountants, and their respective staffs; and the total amount of legal fees paid during the same period?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)

As the reply is rather long, and contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The Ministry does not make any payments to County Councils specifically in respect of Council's administrative expenses of the nature indicated in the question. In regard to small holdings the Ministry pays the losses—that is, the excess of expenditure over income each year up to 31st March, 1926—incurred by Councils in administering the Small Holdings Acts. During the financial year to 31st March, 1925, the Ministry made payments by way of recoupment of such loss to the aggregate amount of £898,772 16s. 6d. The expenditure by County Councils for administrative expenses in respect of that year amounted approximately to £157,943.

In some counties—24 out of the total of 62—the County Agricultural Committee also conducts the County Administration of Agricultural Education. As in the case of small holdings, the Ministry does not make payments specifically in respect of administrative expenses. Grants are made on the basis generally of two-thirds of a Council's total approved expenditure including administration. The total approved expenditure on agricultural education for 1924–25 by all counties, irrespective of the question whether the service was administered by the County Agricultural Committees or otherwise, amounted to £252,690. During the same year, the Councils' administrative expenses in connection with agricultural education amounted to £27,466, towards which the Ministry contributed twothirds—namely, £18,310.

In addition to the above, grants are made to County Councils in respect of various other small services amounting in 1924–25 to £258 5s. 3d.

I have no information as to the amount paid by County Councils by way of legal fees.