Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the research department of the Board of Fisheries occupies at Lowestoft two large houses in the most expensive part of the town with a large staff of officials; that this department is greatly overstaffed and its officials not fully employed; and, in view of the public demand for departmental retrenchment, what action does he propose to take with reference to the future of the research department and also of the control department of fish and of the herring subsidy which is still operating at Lowestoft with six officials and no work to perform?
1550W
Sir A. B.OSCAWENThe freehold of the two houses referred to was purchased on favourable terms two years ago. From the point of view of the work to be done, they are advantageously situated. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and on the subject of the cost of the research work of the Fisheries Department no reduction was recommended by the Geddes Committee who stated that the expenditure on fisheries had been already very severely cut. I do not understand the last part of the question. The last remnants of the extra staff engaged in connection with fish control and with the herring subsidy were dispensed with months ago.