§ 25. Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what authority the Southern Regional Council for Further Education commissioned a questionnaire, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Basingstoke, by Messrs. Produce Studies Limited, marketing consultants, relating to the training of pig men and cow men; and what is the estimated cost of this inquiry.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIt is one of the functions of the regional advisory councils to study and advise on the educational needs of industry. The questionnaire, which covers all occupations on farms, forms part of a survey of the education and training requirements of agriculture, undertaken with the support of the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board which is making a grant of up to £5,000 to meet the cost.
§ Mr. MitchellIs the hon. Lady aware that most of the information demanded in this form is already contained in the agricultural census returns, and that being so, will she take what steps she can to prevent unnecessary form-filling being a burden on the farming community?
§ Mrs. WilliamsI recognise that the hon. Gentleman's constituents do not want to spend their time filling in forms, but the regional advisory council, which is an independent body, has representatives of industry, commerce and education on it, and both the National Farmers' Union and the National Union of Agricultural Workers have full knowledge of the fact that this questionnaire is being sent out.