§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any cuts have been made in the funds available to the Agricultural Research Council for this year and next; and, if so, to what activities the cutback will be applied.
§ Mr. StrangThe Agricultural Research Council has been operating with a somewhat reduced budget for research commissioned by my Department in 1974–75436W reflecting the public expenditure decisions taken in December 1973 by the Conservative administration.
Within the limits necessarily set by wider public expenditure considerations, it is our intention to provide in the Estimates for 1975–76 an increase in the funds for research commissioned by my Department with the council.