§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he accounts for the four miscellaneous offices of the ADAS in the West Midlands region of his Department indicated in the staff list of October 1975 in view of his reply of 16th March on this subject.
§ Mr. PeartIn the reply to the hon. Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills) on 16th March I correctly referred to the seven services comprising ADAS, which do not include a "miscellaneous" group. The question seems to refer to a breakdown of staff in post on October 1975 produced for internal management purposes. It includes, for purely administrative reasons, a "miscellaneous" code for a few officers.—[Vol. 907, c.493–4.]
§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money is dispersed by the finance department of the West Midlands Region of his Department.
§ Mr. PeartThe 11 officers referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on 16th March dealt with payments of about £1,475,000 for travel, miscellaneous expenses and fees in the financial year 1975–76.
§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the responsibilities of the 430 administrative and support staff of the West Midlands Region of his Department; and how those staff are divided.
§ Mr. PeartAbout 100 administrative staff are responsible for the implementation of statutes, including those concerned 189W with public, animal and plant health, and with agricultural wages; the various schemes for grant-aiding farm improvements; executive work on EEC intervention; and the verification of consumer subsidy payments. The remainder include staff providing typing and other common services; executive and clerical grades assisting the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service; and officers engaged on establishment and financial matters.