§ 45. Sir G. Harvie-Wattasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the complaints made by members of the scientific staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew that there is increasing maladministration and lack of interest in their work by the Ministry of Agriculture, which controls the gardens; and whether he will set up a committee to investigate the complaints that have been made and to consider the transfer of the responsibility to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research or to the appropriate department of the British Museum.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries that the complaint, as well as the suggestion of transfer referred to in the Question, was made, for the first time, in a memorandum submitted by the Institution of Professional Civil Servants to the Committee that is at present reviewing the organisation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. No such complaint had previously been made by the staff or their association through the Departmental Whitley Council or to the Director or to the Ministry direct. I see no reason to set up any further committee.