§ 17. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present total cost involving his Department in the provision of services and advice to the agricultural and horticultural industry; and if he will give an estimate of the annual cost for comparable services over the last eight years.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI have assumed that the hon. Member has in mind the cost of operating the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service and services concerned with the control of infestation. The estimated total cost in 1971–72 is £16.0 million. It is estimated that the cost of comparable services in 1963–64 was £7.8 million.
With permission, I will circulate the figures in respect of the intervening years in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. EadieCan the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether costs will increase or decrease if we enter the Common Market? How would he justify it if the cost increased?
§ Mr. StodartThe hon. Gentleman must realise that my hon. Friend has embarked upon an exercise of reducing the advisory service and making it more efficient. As salaries account for 85 per cent. of the cost, I would have thought that the 203 chances of the cost going down were considerable.
§ Following is the information:
| £ million | |
| 1964–65 | 8.7 |
| 1965–66 | 9.2 |
| 1966–67 | 9.8 |
| 1967–68 | 11.0 |
| 1968–69 | 12.1 |
| 1969–70 | 13.2 |
| 1970–71 | 15.3 |