§ 9. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether the Farm Buildings Research Committee has now completed its task of collecting all the relevant information about research; and whether he will make a further statement.
§ Mr. John HareCollection of the relevant information is now virtually complete and the work of drafting the bibliography has begun.
§ Mr. WilleyIs the Minister aware that I first made this suggestion in Standing Committee on the Agriculture Bill in 1957, and that what I had in mind was that a large amount of public money goes into farm improvements? As this money is currently being expended, will the Minister therefore try to expedite the consideration that the Committee is giving to this difficult problem?
§ Mr. HareIn what I have just said, I have shown that a report will be available within a reasonable time. The hon. Member has sometimes, perhaps, been under the impression that this was a sort of ad hoc Committee appointed for a short-term purpose. It is nothing of the sort. It has a long-term rôle, and it must not be deflected from its long-term duties.