24. Mr. Wolridge-Gordonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of his Department's expenditure is concentrated on research; and how this compares with previous years.
§ Mr. PriorExpenditure on research and development is expected to amount to 1.7 per cent. of the total estimated expenditure by my department in 1971–72. Comparable percentages for previous years are: 1970–71, 1.7 per cent.; 1969–70, 1.5 per cent.; 1968–69, 1.5 per cent. The main block of applied agricultural research carried out by the Government is undertaken by the Agricultural Research Council but this is not on my Department's vote.