§ Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he is aware of the course on low-cost milk and beef production to be held at Thames Ditton from 17th to 29th November, sponsored by the British Council and the Milk Marketing Board, for foreigners; what is the cost to public funds; to what extent he was consulted before the course was announced; and whether it is now his policy to allow foreign competitors access to British knowledge and experience.
§ Mr. HoyThe exchange of technical agricultural knowledge is widespread and mutually beneficial, and my right hon. Friend sees no damage to British interests arising from this course, about which he would not have expected to be consulted.
I understand that the fees charged by the British Council for this and similar courses are designed to cover the overall costs of their course programme. Any further question of cost to public funds should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.