§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what farms are maintained by the Department of Agriculture; for what purposes and at what cost to the public; and whether he intends to sell or lease any of such farms to private persons or undertakings.
§ Mr. DunnThe Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland maintains 1,008 hectares of farmland and 980 hectares of hill land. This land provides for the needs of one proposed and three existing agricultural colleges, one horticultural experimental centre, one plant testing station, one plant breeding station, one artificial insemination centre, one pig testing station, one poultry testing station, one beef recording station and one veterinary research laboratory.
324WIt is not possible to differentiate the costs of maintaining this farmland from those related to the other aspects of the centres listed.
I have no present plans to sell or lease any of this farmland.