HC Deb 04 April 1960 vol 621 cc17-9W
Mr. Arbuthnot

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a complete list of experimental centres and farms controlled by his Department showing in each case the acreage, number of staff, profit or loss in respect of operations during each of the last two financial years, and the capital expenditure incurred since each farm was established.

Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the loss or profit incurred at each of his Department's horticultural stations for the latest 12–month period.

Mr. Godber

The information is as follows:

Experimental Horticulture Stations
Acreage Scientific, Technical and Administrative Staff, 1959 Farm Workers including Managers, 1959 Deficit Year ended 31st March, 1958 Deficit Year ended 31st March, 1959 Capital Expenditure up to 31st March, 1959
£ £ £
Efford, Lymington, Hants 376 17 84 53,762 63,974 243,326
Fairfield, Kirkham, Lancs 22 9 20 13,910 15,024 104,490
Lee Valley, Hoddesdon, Herts 26 (e) 6 15 (d) 17,698 66,366
Luddington, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwicks 230 14 52 35,883 36,184 121,411
Rosewarne, Camborne, Cornwall 110 15 70 45,957 51,998 119,086
Ellbridge, Saltash, Cornwall (c) 5 (e) 1 7 3,573 4,070 7,039
Stockbridge House, Cawood, Yorks 162 14 48 31,036 37,704 155,045
Horticulture Demonstration Stations
Bryn Adda, Bangor, Caernarvon 26 (e) 2 15 8,402 10,458 27,534
Cleppa Park, Newport, Mon. 68 (e) 3 22 9,944 13,320 39,785
National Fruit Trials
Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent 185 8 13 9,413 11,935 91,131
Totals 1,210 89 346 211,880 262,365 975,213
Totals—all centres 10,723 182 559 -322,961 -379,248 1,924,747
(a) Revised figures
(b) Operated as one farm
(c) Sub-station at Rosewarne
(d) From inception (July, 1957) to 31st March, 1959
(e) Includes staff also engaged on advisory duties
NOTES:
1. The acreage given is the total area of the centre.
2. The figures include the cost of scientific, technical and administrative staff but not depreciation of buildings or other notional charges such as insurance and interest on capital.
3. "Capital expenditure" includes the cost of acquisition and subsequent development by way of buildings and improvements. It does not include the initial cost of machinery or subsequent replacements, for which an appropriate depreciation charge has been made in arriving at the surplus or deficit.
4. The figures take account of the latest information for the year ended 31st March, 1959, which has just become available.