§ Sir C. CAYZERasked the Minister of Agriculture the annual sum spent by county councils on schools of agriculture; and whether he has considered the advisability of running three such schools, one in the North, one in the South, and the other in the Midlands, instead of the existing county council schools?
Mr. GUINNESSThe net expenditure during the financial year 1927/28 by-county councils on the 14 farm institutes situated in England and Wales which are aided by the Ministry under its Educational Grant Regulations was £21,057. This figure does not include expenditure on the 13 demonstration farms attached to these institutes, or the salaries and expenses of the technical staffs, who spend a considerable portion of their time on county work outside the institutes. The present scheme, which has been in operation for a limited period and which is devised to suit local circumstances and to meet local needs, is developing satisfactorily, and there does not appear to be any sufficient reason at the present time for a reconsideration of the scheme on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.