§ 40. Mr. BLINDELLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received complaints as to the accuracy of reports supplied by the Ministry's crop reporters and published by his Department; whether this has been investigated; and will he state the procedure adopted in order to ensure that every report published by the Ministry as to stocks held by farmers is substantially correct?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONAs regards the general information furnished by crop reporters, criticisms are occasionally made, and invariably receive the fullest investigation. Generally speaking, I am satisfied that the information provided by crop reporters, and published by the Ministry, is substantially correct, but, if the hon. Member has any specific case in mind, I shall be glad to give the matter careful consideration. If the hon. Member's question refers solely to the estimates of stocks remaining on farms on 1st January and 1st April, I am not aware of any complaints as to their accuracy. Every care is taken to ensure that the crop reporters employed are fully qualified to submit reliable estimates.