Agricultural Training Board

HC Deb 25 July 1990 vol 177 cc252-3W

Mr. John Greenway

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he and his ministerial colleagues have concluded their consideration of the outstanding recommendations of the report on the agricultural training board presented by Mr. John E. Smith, November 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

Yes. We have concluded that it would be appropriate to extend the remit of the agricultural training board to permit it to offer its training services, at full economic cost, to a wider range of rural businesses, having regard to the existing provision for training and subject to ministerial direction. This will require primary legislation for which an early opportunity will be sought, so as to enable the board to continue its policy of raising more of its finance from the market. The level of Exchequer funding for future years will be determined, as usual, in the context of the Government's overall decisions on public expenditure. We shall bear in mind the longer-term recommendation on the composition of the board, but we have no immediate plans to alter it or to seek fresh legislation in this respect.