§ 58. Mr. WESTWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a memorandum from the Association of County Staffs of Scottish Colleges of Agriculture relating to the salaries of Scottish county organisers; and, if so, what action, if any, does he propose to raise the salaries of Scottish county organisers to the same level as that of county organisers in England?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)I have received the Memorandum referred to. An increase in the scale of salary of the county organisers has been approved as from April, 1926, subject to adjustment of certain details relative to the assimilation of existing salaries to the new scale, and proposals submitted by the governors of the colleges for an improvement of the scale approved are under consideration by the Board of Agriculture. The position and duties of the county organisers in England and Scotland, respectively, are not altogether comparable, and this must necessarily affect the amount of the salaries paid.
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRIs it not a fact that these increases which have been approved are not at all satisfactory to the staffs or to the directors of these colleges; they are too small to be adequate?
§ Mr. WESTWOODIs it not the case that the higher salaries paid in England induce the best Scottish brains to come to England?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt is very regrettable that sometimes the higher salaries paid in England attract some of the best brains. With regard to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair), the matter is under consideration by the Board of Agriculture at the present time.