HC Deb 01 March 1921 vol 138 c1627W
Mr. W. SMITH

asked the Prime Minister whether the agricultural costings officers will have completed a year's general farm costing by the end of March; whether, to make use of the information obtained, it will have to be tabulated; whether the headquarters staff of the Ministry is to be dispersed at the end of March, and thus the expenses involved in these investigations wasted; and whether, in view of the importance of these investigations and the necessity for continuing for a seven years' period an account of rotation of crops, consideration will be given to the advisability of making the necessary provision, and thus at the same time prevent the waste of the money already spent?

Mr. McCURDY

I have been asked to reply. The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. I trust, however, that the closing of the Ministry of Food will not involve the loss of the fruits of any expenditure already incurred. Important results have already been published, and I am informed that the work of tabulation will be continued under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture.