§ Mr. Hodgsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why his Department has decided that the Agriculture Training Board should not in future be involved in providing courses in farm business management; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangProvision for agricultural education and training in management generally has been under review for some time in the light of the findings in the Report of the EDC for Agriculture on "Agriculture into the 1980s". There have been extensive discussions with representatives of the industry and of the Agricultural Training Board.
My right hon. Friend the Minister and I are concerned that the Board should further develop its provision for training in man-management skills to complement the courses in farm business management being provided by local education authorities and other bodies in the education sector. This does not preclude the Board from assisting the education bodies concerned by advising them of local needs or by recognising their courses for purposes of Board grants.