§ 15. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps he is taking to assist the various developing countries to obtain extra agricultural advisers to help with agricultural expansion in these countries.
§ Mr. OramThe number of agricultural staff supplied by my Department to 1261 developing countries has grown since 1963 from 100 a year to nearly 200 a year. There are now some 1,500 British agricultural experts working in agricultural development under our bilateral aid arrangements, and many others in F.A.O. If there is a further expansion in the demand, we would hope to be able to meet it.
§ Mr. MillsDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that this is the best way of helping emerging countries? Also, it will help to encourage young people to realise that agriculture is a dignified way of living, which is absolutely vital to these areas.
§ Mr. Will GriffithsCan my hon. Friend say whether there is a demand at the moment which is approved by the Government but which it is not possible to fulfil because of the shortage of suitable personnel?
§ Mr. OramThere are at present 169 vacancies, but these are in the normal process of recruitment. I should not say that there is a special bottleneck in this sphere.