18. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons were employed in Essex by his Department at a convenient comparable date in 1956, 1955 and 1954.
Mr. HarrisonCan my right hon. Friend say whether he expects next year to be able to effect a reduction somewhat similar to that which happened in the two earlier years he mentioned in his Answer?
Mr. AmoryI am very anxious indeed to make any savings we possibly can without loss of efficiency in our out-station staff, and I am shortly publishing the Report of the Wilson Committee, which deals with those aspects of this problem.
Mr. AmoryThere has been a contraction of some of our contract services for machinery and other work, but in general there has been no contraction whatever in the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the other main advisory and aid services. There has been no contraction, for instance, in the animal health service.