§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider setting up a Farm Buildings Research Unit, under the auspices of the Agricultural Research Council, for the research into the design of farm buildings, so as to increase agricultural production through more efficient and economic construction or reconstruction of farm buildings to meet the ever-changing needs of agriculture.]
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are fully aware of the importance of the problem of farm building design. I would, however, remind the noble Lord that a new research unit in this field would be bound to involve heavy additional expenditure and, moreover, it seems at present probable that more is likely to be achieved by continuing and expanding research and investigation at the existing institutes and other centres concerned with different aspects of the subject than by trying to centralise such research in one place. I am, however, asking the Agricultural Research Council to consider the desirability of a meeting with the Agricultural Departments so as to ensure that there is co-ordination of all the activities in this field.
§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Marquess for his reassuring and comprehensive reply.