HC Deb 02 November 1949 vol 469 c54W
Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will specify the undertakings which will be affected by the proposed reduction by £6 million in the expenditure of his Department.

Mr. T. Williams

My right hon. Friend's statement referred to preliminary estimates of my Department's expenditure which would have reflected the cost of developing as well as maintaining present services. The full effects will, therefore, result partly from a deferment of development and partly from an acceleration of economies already under consideration. The main headings under which the economies will be effected are, in addition to those mentioned by my right hon. Friend, the disbandment of the Women's Land Army, slowing down the programme for replacement of agricultural and land drainage machinery held by county agricultural executive committees, a number of miscellaneous savings at the county agricultural executive committees and in headquarter's services and a temporary deferment of the introduction of the proposed scheme for the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle on an area basis.