Provincial and Local Organisation (Report) (Hansard, 2 August 1956)

Mr. Amory

Yes. I have decided to leave the present structure of agricultural executive committees unchanged though with some reduction in sub-committees. In the administration of grants and services the valuable advice and practical experience of members of these committees will still be fully used, but they will be relieved of the straightforward work. I am accepting the recommendations for setting up divisional executive offices and for the appointment of regional controllers. These decisions were taken in the light of the views of the agricultural executive committees and the comments of the industry's representative bodies. They should result in a simplified and more efficient organisation and in a substantial measure of economy.

Following is a fuller statement:

County Agricultural Executive Committees 1. The Report stresses the importance of C.A.E.C.s in the partnership between State and industry and recognises the value of their local leadership. In endorsing these remarks I would like to pay a warm tribute to all who are serving on these committees for their invaluable help in local agricultural administration. I am convinced that their help will be needed just as much in the future, as the report suggests, in supplying local knowledge and advice both to the Minister and to the farmer; in promoting technical development; in exercising statutory functions; and generally in giving advice and guidance which is essential to the proper handling of a variety of local problems. 2. The report suggests that C.A.E.C.s should be relieved of routine work connected with the administration of various grants and subsidies, trading services, etc. I accept this recommendation but consider it most important that the local practical knowledge of committee members should be fully used in suitable cases. I think this can best be achieved not by leaving them to hear appeals against the decisions of officials, as the report suggests, but by arranging for them to be consulted in appropriate cases at an earlier stage so that their knowledge and experience is drawn upon before decisions are reached. Committees will also be kept informed of the general progress of administration in their counties. 3. The Wilson Committee recommends substantial changes in the county committee structure but I am not convinced that these are necessary. I have decided that C.A.E.C.s should continue to be constituted as at present and with no change in title: and that subcommittees and district committees should remain, though reduced in number wherever possible. In this way I consider that the 185W advantages at which the Wilson Committee were aiming can be largely secured with the minimum of disturbance.

Divisional Executive Offices 4. As regards staff and offices dealing with financial, executive and similar work, it is clear that rigid adherence to administrative county boundaries inevitably leads to wide disparity in the size and consequently the economy of local units. I propose therefore to reorganise the executive work of the present 60 county offices into a smaller number of divisional executive offices, as recommended by the Wilson Committee. This will mean that in a number of cases one divisional office will undertake the executive work of more than one county.

Regional Controllers 5. I also accept the recommendation for the appointment of regional controllers. At present there are several organisations operating separately at regional level, due partly to the wide range of work involved and partly to the recent merger of the Agriculture and Food Departments. The proposals in the report will lead to greater uniformity and co-ordination; will secure proper supervision and increased efficiency of non-technical work and staff in the provinces; and will permit the devolution of many establishment, finance and defence planning matters from Headquarters. The regional controllers will not intervene in the technical work of the main technical services or in the operational control of those services from Headquarters. 6. Separate consideration will be given to the position of the Welsh Secretary, to whom the Wilson Committee thought greater authority should be devolved than to regional controllers in England.

General 7. I have dealt with the basic recommendations which involve significant changes in county and regional structure. I am sure that their adoption, with the modifications I have indicated, will result in a simplified and more efficient organisation and that a substantial measure of economy will result. It will inevitably take some time to put the proposed changes into operation. 8. Many other recommendations, some of them of considerable importance, remain to be considered. The necessary consultations are still proceeding. 9. The decisions set out in this statement in no way prejudice consideration in due course of any recommendations of the Franks Committee on Administrative Tribunals and Inquiries.