§ Major HURSTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware of the money and labour expended by the University of Manchester on organising research on economic entomology; whether the university was promised continuous Government support for the purpose of such research by Sir I. Elliott, Sir S. Olivier, and other officials; whether the Grant in question has now been transferred to Rot-hamsted; and what is the motive of such transfer;
(2) whether the two advisers promised to the Manchester University for agricultural teaching in August, 1918, will be shortly appointed; and whether and when the annual Grant of £l,000 promised at the same time by the Development Commissioners will be forthcoming?
§ Major NALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will take steps to remedy the urgent need now felt in Lancashire and Cheshire of research facilities in economic 806W entomology, in consequence of the cessation of such research in the University of Manchester?
Sir ARTHUR BOSCAWENUnder the original scheme for Agricultural Research as sanctioned by the Development Commissioners, the subject of entomology was allocated to the University of Man-Chester. In consequence, a staff was appointed, and up to 1918 annual Grants in aid of the work were made. At the same time research in plant pathology was instituted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
In 1918 the Board came to the decision that all research in plant diseases, whether duo to insects or to fungi, should be concentrated in one phytopathological institute, which should be located at Rothamsted, where also the Board's scientific advisory staff in the subject should be stationed. In pursuance of this plan, which the Board were convinced would be to the advantage of agriculture, it became necessary to transfer the Manchester. University staff, as well as a portion of the mycological staff at Kew, to Rothamsted. As, however, the university had provided special facilities for the study of entomology it was decided to offer an annual Grant of £l,000 to enable them to continue their work in entomology and also to take up mycological study.
The moneys for such purposes come from the Development Fund, and the approval of the Development Commissioners is necessary. This the Board are now applying for.