§ 3. Mr. Loveysasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether the extra posts added to the establishments of the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the Scottish Agricultural Inspectorate to cater for overseas needs have now been filled.
§ Mr. R. CarrOne of the six extra posts for the Scottish Advisory Services has been filled and it is expected that 15 out of the 24 extra posts for the National Agricultural Advisory Service will be filled shortly.
§ Mr. LoveysDoes not my right hon. Friend consider this slow rate of recruitment somewhat unsatisfactory? May I ask whether he can give any special reason for this and what steps he intends to take to improve the position?
§ Mr. CarrI have certainly been disappointed at the rate of recruitment. We must bear in mind that this was a new idea and, therefore, may have been a little slow in attracting attention, and also 1762 that last year there was pretty severe competition for agricultural graduates, for example, from industry. The fact that we now have 15 out of 24 of the N.A.A.S. posts on the point of being filled will show that recruitment is now going faster.