HC Deb 19 May 1944 vol 400 cc441-2W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many land utility officers have been appointed and at what rate of salary; their location and area of operation; what staff are employed; what are the qualifications for such appointment; and what is the relationship of these officials to the Land Commissioners and their duties.

Mr. Hudson

I have appointed II Rural Land Utilisation Officers, including Dr. Stamp, the Chief Adviser, and II Assistant Rural Land Utilisation Officers. An additional Officer for Wales will be appointed shortly. Rural Land Utilisation Officers are part-time officers who receive no salary but an allowance, normally of £300 per annum, for expenses. Assistant Rural Land Utilisation Officers are employed full-time and receive a salary of £650 per annum.

They are located at offices in the following places:

Newcastle-on-Tyne, Leeds, Nottingham, Cambridge, London, Winchester, Painswick (Gloucestershire), Ruthin, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Wye (Kent).

The area of operation is generally the Civil Defence Region. Clerical and other assistance is supplied as required.

The qualifications required for Rural Land Utilisation Officers are a knowledge of agriculture, particularly of the Regions in which they are employed, a wide knowledge and interest in rural affairs and some knowledge of Town and County Planning. Rural Land Utilisation Officers and Assistant Rural Land Utilisation Officers keep in close touch with my Land Commissioners who, during the war at least, are heavily engaged in important duties relating to war-time food production.