§ Mr. L. SMITHasked the Minister of Agriculture how many meetings have been held by the Agricultural Research Council; who is its secretary; how many paid officers has the council and what are their salaries and other remuneration; whether the council has any funds at its disposal for the purpose of furthering its objects and, if so, what amount; and whether copies are available of the council's charter and, if so, where and at what price?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Agricultural Research Council held its first meeting last Thursday, and I am not yet in a position to answer the second and third parts of the hon. Member's question. In reply to the fourth part, I may explain that expenditure for agricultural research in Great Britain amounts, on the basis of this year's Estimates, to more than £300,000 for the year, excluding grants from the Empire Marketing Board; the Council will in future be generally responsible for advising on all such expenditure. Copies of the charter are not yet generally available, but I am sending one to the hon. Member.