§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the market research survey on services provided by the Scottish agricultural colleges; what plans he has to publish it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe Council of Scottish Agricultural Colleges (COSAC) has commissioned a market research survey to assess the options for charging for advisory services provided by the Scottish agricultural colleges. The report of the study team is expected to be presented to COSAC later this month. There are no plans to publish the survey findings.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Inbucon management
£000's College Advisory R & D Education Total East Maintenance 2,245 2,154 771 5,170 Capital 136 131 47 314 North Maintenance 2,567 2,251 1,004 5,822 Capital 144 126 56 326 West Maintenance 2,399 2,444 2,203 7,046 Capital 227 231 208 666 Financial allocations to each college for 1986–87 and 1987–88 have not yet been determined.
The numbers of staff employed by each college at 1 September 1985 were as follows:
Number East 354 North 427 West 500 Given the integration of the Colleges' advisory, research and development and education functions with staff employed on more than one activity it is not possible to provide a breakdown of staff numbers by function.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the full staff levels and complements for each of the departments in each of the Scottish agricultural colleges for 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 and projections for 1986–87.
§ Mr. John MacKayI am arranging to send to the hon. Member the information requested for the years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86. Copies will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
60Wsurvey of the three Scottish agricultural colleges; what arrangements he has made for it to be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe Council of the Scottish Agricultural Colleges has commissioned a study by management consultants to advise on the future management structure and administrative arrangements for a new company which would have overall responsibility for the management of all the services currently provided by the existing Scottish agricultural colleges.
The findings of the study team, which are expected early in the new year, will not be published.
As indicated in the consultation paper on the agricultural advisory services in Scotland, the Secretary of State supports this and other initiatives which the management of the Scottish agricultural colleges has taken in pursuit of a more economic and effective service.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the financial allocations for each of the Scottish agricultural colleges for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88, in each case breaking down the amount into allocations for advisory, research and development and educational work; and if he will give the projections of staff able to be employed in each college in each year financed by these allocations.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe financial allocation to each of the three Scottish agricultural colleges for 1985–86 is as follows:
I regret that it is not possible to provide projected figures for 1986–87.