§ 82. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in the rules of good husbandry outlined in Section 11 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, there is no reference to the question of costs; and, in view of this omission, what instructions he has issued to agricultural executive committees and others, whose responsibility it is to improve standards of husbandry, to take into account the costs in money in relation to the increased return in terms of money that it is estimated would result from the advice they give to individual farmers.
§ Mr. NugentThe reference in Section 11 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, to the maintenance of a reasonable standard of efficient production, clearly requires costs and returns to be taken into account. This is fully understood by members of county agricultural executive committees and by officers of the Department who are responsible for advising farmers on178W husbandry, and no specific instructions are necessary. My right hon. Friend is writing to my hon. Friend on this matter.