§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of the boards, commissions, committees or other types of 268W organisations established by his Department since October 1974, giving in each case the purpose of the organisation, the chairman's and members' salaries and expenses, and the total cost of the organisation for each year since 1974.
§ Mr. BishopThe information requested is as follows:
269W
Body Date set up Purpose of the Organisation Salaries or Fees Total cost Farm Safety Steering Group January 1975 (disbanded February 1976) To advise the Minister on the scope, provision and priorities for health and safety in agriculture, as an interim measure until the Employment Protection Act 1975 came into force. Chairman and members unpaid 1975—£287* Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis September 1975 To keep under review: 1. The evidence relating to bovine tuberculosis in badgers including its incidence and its relationship to bovine tuberculosis in cattle: and 2. The operations to be undertaken by the Ministry in order to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from badgers and to monitor its existence in the badger population. Chairman and members unpaid 1975—£540 1976—£531 1977—£723 Poultry Diseases Panel January 1976 To advise on the disease problems of importance to the poultry industry and to identify significant contributions on research into poultry disease and encourage their dissemination to the industry. Chairman and members unpaid 1976—£342 1977—£260 Agricultural Dwelling-House Advisory Committees January 1977 In accordance with subsections (3) and (4) of section 28 of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, whenever so requested by a housing authority, or by the applicant or the cottage occupier concerned, an ADHAC is required to advise on the applicant's case for re-housing facilities; and to do so in terms of "the interests of efficient agriculture and regarding the urgency". Chairman: fee of £14 for full day. Members unpaid 1977—£25,000† Coypu Strategy Group August 1977 To advise on future strategy for coypu control, including research provision. Chairman and members unpaid 1977 (August-December)—£160 Committee of Inquiry into the Acquisition and Occupancy of Agricultural Land September 1977 To examine recent trends in agricultural land acquisition and occupancy as they affect the structure of the agricultural industry; and to report. Chairman and members unpaid September 1977 to date—£8,500‡ Travelling and subsistence expenses of chairman and members of all these bodies are reimbursed. * These figures are made up entirely of travelling and subsistence expenses unless otherwise stated. † This figure includes chairman's fees and loss of earnings allowances for members. ‡ This figure mainly comprises the running of the committee.