§ Mr Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agricuulture, Fisheries and Food how it is estimated that the time of field officers is divided between checking grants, subsidies, farm safety, pest control and ad hoc work on such matters as EEC intervention and agricultural censuses.
§ Mr. PeartOn the basis of the last complete year for which figures are available, field officers in my Department spend 46 per cent. of their time on grants and subsidies work, 30 per cent. on safety work, 9 per cent. on pests work and 15 per cent. on ad hoc duties. There can, however, be substantial variations according to the type of farming in particular areas, the season and the incidence of ad hoc duties such as EEC intervention work.