§ 66. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the progress of the National Advisory Service.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe National Agricultural Advisory Service was formally established on 1st October, which I had prescribed as the appointed day for the purposes of Section 1 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1944. Some 1,500 candidates have been selected for appointment by selection boards set up by the Civil Service Commission and have been notified accordingly. Those with rights of transfer from other employment under the Act of 1944, numbering-some 300, were transferred and given notice of posting on 1st October, and like notice has since been sent to the rest of those selected for appointment. The senior officers of the service were appointed earlier and are all at their posts.
New office and laboratory accommodation has had to be found for the provincial centres of the new service, and owing to the building position will take time to complete. Meanwhile temporary accommodation has been sought where necessary, while a number of universities and agricultural colleges have generously continued for the time being to house some of the specialist advisers who have previously been members of their staffs. Because of accommodation difficulties and, even more, the shortage of qualified men and women in several fields of advisory work, some little time will necessarily elapse before the service is completely staffed and equipped and in full operation, but every effort will be made to recruit the service up to the desired strength as soon as possible.