Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the number of farmers that applied for information to the research department or the cultural farms under the control of the Ministry for information and advice in the 12 months ended 31st March, 1928?
Mr. GUINNESSThe scheme for providing technical advice and information for farmers contemplates that in the first instance application shall be made to the County Agricultural Staffs. More specialised information is provided by the Provincial Advisory Centres attached to universities and agricultural colleges, by the Agricultural Research Institutes and, on certain subjects, by the Ministry. Complete statistics are not available and would be very difficult to obtain, particularly since a large number of inquiries are verbal. Very many thousands of applications are, however, dealt with872W in the course of the year by these various agencies. I am sending the hon. Member a leaflet describing the facilities for obtaining technical advice.