Agricultural Development and Advisory Service

HC Deb 29 November 1983 vol 49 cc447-8W

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report details of the numbers employed in die agricultural development and advisory service in each year since 1974.

Mr. Jopling

The number of staff employed in the agricultural development and advisory service throughout Great Britain in each year since 1974 is as follows:

	Numbers
1 April 1974	*5,094
1 April 1975	5,202
1 April 1976	*5,425
1 April 1977	5,418
1 April 1978	5,447
1 April 1979	5,463
1 April 1980	5,449
1 April 1981	5,300
1 April 1982	5,057
1 April 1983	4,889

^* Details of industrial staff in ADAS are not available for 1 April in these years: staff levels for the nearest available month have therefore been included in each case.