§ 51. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the fact that the total net deficit on the services operated by the 60 county agricultural executive committees in 1948 was £14,296,112, what steps he is taking to prevent losses in the future; or if he will do away with them altogether.
Mr. T. WilliamsAll possible steps are being taken to reduce the deficits on the trading services of county agricultural executive committees by increasing charges, reducing expenditure by improved organisation, cutting down the scope of the activities as far as possible having regard to food production requirements, and reviewing the lands in possession of committees with a view to early derequisitioning of as much as possible. If the second part of the Question refers to the committees themselves, the answer is, "No."