§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the present programme of research into disposal of farm wastes carried out under his Department; if he will increase his Department's support for this work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ross:I am satisfied that the work described in my replies of 1st February and of 28th November, 1967, to the hon. Member amounts to a reasonable and sensible programme of investigation on this important subject. It will be continued and extended as appropriate.—[Vol. 740, c.111; Vol. 755, c.84]
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent by his Department on research into disposal of farm wastes in 1967; and how much it is planned to spend in 1968.
§ Mr. Ross:As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 1st February 1967 various investigations into the disposal of farm waste are carried out in Scotland by the agricultural colleges at college farms and elsewhere, but it is not practicable to isolate their cost from the other work of the colleges. Nor is it possible to cost separately relevant work in the chemistry, bacteriology, microbiology and machinery departments of the colleges.
Specific expenditure includes £2,700 being spent at Auchincruive during the 163W current year for work on oxidation ditches, and £1,000 is being allowed for development of this in 1968–69, out of a total of £4,000 being allocated by the Scottish Farm Buildings Investigation Unit at Craibstone for work on waste disposal.—[Vol. 740, c.111]