HC Deb 24 November 1949 vol 470 cc525-7
54. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to ensure that the accounts of the county committees show the full amount of expenditure and income which is properly attributable to each service and the amount of Ministry of Works expenditure on hostels which is attributable to the gang labour service.

Mr. T. Williams

The intention is that the trading accounts of county committees for 1948–49 and succeeding years shall include all expenditure and income properly attributable to each service. As regards hostels, it is proposed, on the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee, to show in the Appropriation Account the income and expenditure in respect of hostels arising on the Ministry's Vote and on the Votes of other Departments.

Sir W. Smithers

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, of which this forms part, is a terrible indictment of his Department and of State control as a whole?

Mr. Williams

I do not agree to anything of the kind.

Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

When is it proposed to consider publishing the accounts of the agricultural executive committees?

Mr. Williams

When they have been submitted to the appropriate select committee.

Mr. Turton

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman is going to change the form of the accounts, as recommended by the Select Committee on Estimates?

Mr. Williams

I stated, in regard to hostels, that it is proposed, on the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee, to show in the Appropriation Account the income and expenditure arising on the Ministry's Vote and the Votes of other Departments.

55. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in order that Parliament may form an accurate view of the way in which some £20 million is spent on the services of county committees, he will publish in detail the audited accounts of each county committee.

Mr. T. Williams

No, Sir.

Sir W. Smithers

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that he will call to the particular attention of the Auditor-General the point of both this Question and the previous Question?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Member is fully aware that the question was dealt with by the Select Committee on Estimates in their Eleventh Report, on which the Department's observations will be very shortly submitted to the Committee.

56. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the name of the county committee that lost £350,000 in 1947–48.

Mr. T. Williams

No, Sir.

Sir W. Smithers

Why does the Minister wish to hide the inefficiency of this county committee, and will he, if he will not give the name of the committee, sack those responsible for this loss and replace them by decent farmers who know their job?

Mr. Williams

I have already stated, in regard to the recommendations of the Select Committee, that the Department's observations on the Report will very shortly be submitted to that Committee.