§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the titles of the jobs of people he employs to visit farms and check details of grant and subsidy payments; how many of them he employs, on a region-by-region basis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe verification visits to farms on grant and subsidy schemes are generally undertaken, among other duties, by staff in the executive officer (field) grade. The number of EOs (field) currently employed in the Ministry's regional offices are as follows:
Number Northern Region 29 Midlands and Western Region 119 Eastern Region 19 South Western Region 18 South Eastern Region 11 England total 96.5 1Plus one half time official. Where specific technical verification is required, appropriate officers in the Ministry's Agricultural Development Advisory Service may also visit farms.