§ 85. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that the collection of quarterly returns of crops and livestock is justified; and what saving in the staff and cost of his Department would be effected by reverting to the pre-war practice of collecting complete returns from farmers once a year.
§ Sir T. DugdaleAfter consultation with the Agricultural Statistics Advisory Committee I have decided, with effect from March, 1953, to collect the agricultural returns for March, September and December in each year on the basis of a sample of one-third of all the agricultural holdings. All occupiers of holdings will be allocated at random to three groups who will respectively be required to complete returns each year in March, September and December. The June return will continue to be collected on a 100 per cent. basis as hitherto, and the effect of the new system will be to halve the load of form filling by farmers, thus reverting approximately to the pre-war position.
Nevertheless, I am advised that the degree of accuracy that can be expected from one-third sample is such that there should be no material weakening in the supply of up-to-date statistical information necessary to measure the progress of the agricultural production drive, to 189W formulate agricultural policy, and to conduct the statutory Annual Review of the economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry. The March, September and December censuses, although reduced to one-third, will continue to be compulsory, and a prompt response by all the farmers to whom the forms are addressed will become even more important than now, so that the new system, which will be so much to the benefit of farmers, may fully succeed. Special measures may be necessary to secure the supply of information on the progress of horticultural crops in England and Wales, and I am arranging for discussions to take place with the National Farmers' Union.
I am glad to inform the House that the new arrangements are expected to reduce the number of staff employed in my Department by about 100 persons, and to effect a saving of at least £50,000 a year.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will also be reducing by one-half the number of compulsory returns from the farmer but will do so by discontinuing the March and September censuses. Northern Ireland operates its own Agricultural Returns Act, but I understand from the Minister of Agriculture there that changes will be made similar to those in Scotland.
Further details of the new arrangements will be issued later.