§ Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the Minister of Agriculture, whether he is aware that in the county of Hereford eight persons, styled crop controllers, are paid a salary of £100 per annum, and that all of these are persons of means; whether there are crop controllers employed in every county; if so, will he state the number; what are the duties of a crop controller; and whether he will consider the suggestion that the work in Hereford could be done more efficiently under the supervision of the county agricultural director with the assistance of a clerk, at a salary of about £200 per annum, thus saving £600 per year in the county of Hereford alone?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONI presume that the hon. Member refers to the Ministry's crop reporters. There are eight crop reporters employed in the county of Hereford, two of whose districts extend into adjoining counties. The remuneration paid ranges from £40 to £90 per annum, the average being £67 10s. and the total in respect of Hereford £485. They are only part-time officers of the Ministry. There are 320 crop reporters throughout England and Wales, and their duties consist of: (a) the collection annually of the returns of the area under crops and the number of live stock on holdings of more than one acre; (b) the estimation of the production of the principal crops; and (c) the supply to the Ministry of a monthly report on the condition of crops and agricultural conditions generally. In addition, they supply special information as required. It is essential that the persons employed should have an extensive 1621W acquaintance with local agricultural conditions, and, having regard to the amount of work involved, the Ministry is satisfied that it could not be performed in the way suggested by the hon. Member either so efficiently or so cheaply. My right hon. Friend regrets, therefore, that he is unable to accept the hon. Member's suggestion.