§ 37. Mr. G. Jegerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the general inquiry into farm institute education has commenced; and when he expects to issue a report.
Mr. AmoryI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 24th November last, in which I explained that I do not propose to appoint the committee of inquiry until the latter part of this year.
§ Mr. JegerDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is considerable feeling in the countryside about the number of empty places in the farm institutes and that this form of agricultural education is being neglected?
Mr. AmoryI deplore very much the fact that, as the hon. Member said, there are vacancies in the farm institutes. The vacancies are much greater in number in some parts of the country than in others, but for the reasons which I gave in the Answer to which I have referred, I believe that the right time to hold this inquiry will be to appoint a committee towards the end of the present year.