§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of members upon the various agricultural committees in Great Britain appointed by the county 1343W councils and the Ministry of Agriculture, and the number of workers' representatives appointed by him to these committees.
§ Dr. ADDISONThe total number members of agricultural committees in England and Wales is 2,557, of whom 1,722, including 80 workers' representatives, have been appointed by the county councils, and 835, including 155 workers' representatives, have been appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. There are no agricultural committees in Scotland. As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Frome (Mr. Gould), I hope to be able to increase the number of the workers' representatives when the opportunity occurs in April next.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the Northumberland County Council has recently rescinded the decision to pay subsistence allowances to workers' representatives upon the Northumberland agricultural committee, which will prohibit the workers' representatives attending, he will say why he has endorsed this action?
§ Dr. ADDISONFormerly the payment out of county funds of both travelling and subsistence expenses by the committee to its agricultural labour members was entirely at the option of the committee. In March last, the county council informed the Ministry that it was proposed to revise the county agricultural committee scheme so as to provide for the payment of travelling expenses only, but to make such payment compulsory upon the committee on application being made by any of its members. The Ministry pressed the council to reconsider their proposal not to pay subsistence allowance, but without success. The amendment to make payment of travelling expenses obligatory was therefore approved. Under the present law I have no power to require the payment of subsistence allowances.