Agricultural Advisory Service

HC Deb 01 December 1971 vol 827 cc102-3W

58. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement on the future of the agricultural advisory service in Scotland.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The service is the responsibility of the Agricultural Colleges and the results of the review which they undertook at my right hon. Friend's request will be set out fully in a joint statement which they are issuing today.

My right hon. Friend and I are grateful to the Governing Bodies for the thorough and careful study they have made of the best means of securing the Government's objectives of some reduction in expenditure coupled with more effective concentration of advisory resources and we have indicated our general agreement with their proposals.