§ Mr. Sproatasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost of running the agricultural dwelling-house advisory committees including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating, lighting and maintenance in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.
§ Mr. StrangThe total cost of agricultural dwelling-house advisory committees—ADHACs—in England and Wales in the financial year 1977–78 was £22,877. Responsibility for servicing ADHACs in Wales was transferred to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on 1st April 1978. Published estimates for the cost of ADHACs in England for 1978–79 show a total of £86,400.
However, as experience of the operation of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 accumulates it seems likely that actual expenditure will be lower. No allowance has been made for expenditure on the salaries and accommodation of Ministry officers who service ADHACs since this would have been incurred whether or not they existed.