§ 13. Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated annual cost to his Department in 1969–70, and to dale, resulting from the giving of advice to local authority planning committees on the agricultural aspects of individual planning applications made by farmers.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartAbout £50,000 in 1969–70 and £54,000 in 1970–71.
§ Mr. ChapmanThis must represent just a fraction of the expenditure of my right hon. Friend's Department. It is a matter of the economy versus the environment. Is my hon. Friend prepared to reconsider his intention to discontinue this service, as not to do so would, in the opinion of many people, be inimical to the good design and disposition of agricultural buildings in rural areas?
§ Mr. StodartI am afraid that my right hon. Friend would not be agreeable to reconsider this. It involves the Department in about 5,000 cases a year and the staff concerned could be doing more essential work. We see no reason why planning decisions involving agriculture should be more difficult than others, or why farmers and land owners should not accept the same responsibilities as others in justifying their development proposals.