§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the cost of the propaganda which is being carried out by advisory economists among farmers in educating them in questions of farm costs, marketing, and farm management, is being paid out of public funds, and, if so, what is the amount involved?
Mr. GUINNESSThe advisory economists attached to the principal Agricultural Colleges and University Departments of Agriculture in England and Wales are supported by grants from the Development Fund which cover nearly the whole cost of these officers. It is not possible to state exactly the proportion of time spent in advising farmers on questions of accounts, management, etc., and the proportion of time devoted to investigation of problems of agricultural economics, which also forms part of the duties of the advisory economists. The total provision for this service for the current financial year is £12,000. I would refer the hon. Member for a description of the scheme to pages 10 and 46 of the Report on the work of the Intelligence Department of the Ministry for the three years 1921–24 recently published by His Majesty's Stationery Office.