HC Deb 13 November 1952 vol 507 cc74-5W
72. Mr. Peyton

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total staff employed in the regional offices of his Department; and how many were so employed in 1938 and 1948.

Sir T. Dugdale

The Ministry is primarily organised on a county basis, but the counties are grouped in eight provinces, of which Wales forms one. On 1st October, 1952, the number of staff employed in the provincial offices of the Ministry was 1,194. The corresponding figure for 1948 was 916. In 1938 there were no provincial offices in England, but there was a staff of 40 at the Ministry's Welsh Department at Aberystwyth.

77. Mr. Raikes

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he finds it necessary to employ over 8,000 officials to supervise agriculture and fisheries.

Sir T. Dugdale

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the numbers of officials of my Department charged to Vote 8 in Class VI of the Estimates. This represents a decrease of 180 as compared with a year ago. While I am satisfied that the present number is essential to carry out the Government's agricultural and fisheries policies, I shall not hesitate to make further savings where that can be done without loss of efficiency.

79. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the staff of the Agricultural Land Commission has gone up from 36 in 1951–52 to 47 in 1952–53.

Sir T. Dugdale

Excluding the members of the Commission and of the Welsh Sub-Commission, the number of staff employed has increased from 30 to 40. The increased staff is required to deal with additional work being undertaken by the Commission and the Welsh Sub-Commission.

81. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the Minister of Agriculture how far he proposes to reduce the staff of the county agricultural executives, now numbering 6,425 at an annual cost of £2,636,000; and what increase in agricultural production may be attributed to their work.

Sir T. Dugdale

During the year ending 1st October, 1952, the number of staff has been reduced by 12 per cent. to 5,962 and will be kept under constant review to ensure that further savings are made where that can be done without detriment to the food production programme. The contribution of these staffs to the great increase in agricultural production over recent years cannot be precisely determined; but their work is essential to the operations of the committees and to the subsidy and other schemes for increasing production which they administer.