§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received the report of the De La Warr Committee on agricultural education provided by local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HareMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Education and I have received the report of Lord De La Warr's Committee which is being published today. We are grateful to our noble Friend and the members of his Committee for their service in this inquiry. The report raises wide issues which are still being studied. It will be of great interest to local education authorities, the agricultural community and all concerned with the advancement of agricultural education.
One of the Committee's recommendations (which was the subject of an interim report now published as part of the main report) is that my responsibility for the agricultural education provided by local education authorities should be transferred to the Minister of Education. My right hon. Friend and I have accepted this recommendation, as we agree with the Committee that it would be in the best interests of agricultural education. The transfer will take effect from 1st April, 1959.
My Department will maintain the closest interest in the progress of agricultural education, and its advice and cooperation will be fully available to the Ministry of Education.